2025 Resolution

Interconnectedness, Reconciliation, and Renewal

I thought we might approach the unfolding season of 2025 a little differently this year.

My philosophy centres on the interconnectedness of individuals and communities, where each is essential to the flourishing of the other. I believe individuals shape communities just as communities shape individuals, creating a dynamic, interdependent relationship. The past, I hold, is not something to be shed or forgotten but rather a foundation from which to build the future. As Ecclesiastes 3:15 reminds us: ‘Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.’ The past informs our choices, offering lessons and insights, but it must not constrain us. Instead, it should serve as a guide as we move through the transitory nature of existence, always becoming who we are meant to be.

I see human growth as inherently communal. While individual effort and autonomy are valuable, they are incomplete without collaboration and connection. This resonates with Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:12, where he describes believers as one body with many parts, each dependent on the other. It is through this collective work that we grow in love, creativity, and harmony.

Central to my understanding is the role of the Holy Spirit, who unites and guides us in our shared journey. The Spirit, as described in Acts 2, brings order to chaos and transforms divisions into understanding. This dynamic, unifying presence is vital for fostering the love and reconciliation necessary for human flourishing. Jürgen Moltmann captures this beautifully in The Spirit of Life, writing: ‘The Holy Spirit is the power of the resurrection for life, for life in fellowship, for life in fullness.’

I critique the rampant individualism of modern faith, which often separates belief from reason and community. Faith, for me, must be dynamic and relational, not static or confined to doctrinal rigidity. Jesus pointed to the ongoing nature of salvation when he said, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). This speaks not of works earning salvation but of salvation’s transformative outworking in our lives. It reminds me that the journey of faith is not just about coming to God but also about being reconciled to one another. Matthew 5:24 exhorts us: ‘First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.’

Storytelling and ritual are integral to this reconciliation. They celebrate life, express gratitude, and embrace diversity. Stories shape identity and belonging, connecting us to our past and projecting us into a shared future. John Mbiti’s African perspective aligns with this: ‘I am because we are, and since we are, therefore I am.’ This communal view underscores the importance of collective narratives in shaping a hopeful and harmonious existence.

Faith, for me, is a living, evolving relationship with God, rooted in the mystery of our being and doing. Reconciliation—both with God and with one another—is at its heart. This requires breaking cycles of division and animosity. The story of Hagar and Sarah offers a poignant example, where unresolved tensions gave rise to enduring strife—strife mirrored today in the violence and trauma experienced in places like Palestine. Yet, the Spirit offers hope for unity. Acts 2 shows us how diverse tongues were brought into understanding, and Jesus stands as the catalyst for this reconciliation.

I long for a world where collaboration thrives—not assimilation, but true collaboration that honours individuality while allowing the Spirit to transform us. It is this transformation that transcends cultural imperatives and brings us to a place where faith and reason, mystery and understanding, exist together in harmony. As faith communities, we must turn outward, grounded in God’s dynamic being, to reconcile and create a future where the fullness of life, as promised in John 10:10, is realised.