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Stallone and the Sallies
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‘I am the sum total of everyone I’ve ever met,’ said Sylvester Stallone, during his speech after winning a Golden Globe. Stallone didn’t build his career on Shakespearean dialogue, so this struck me as surprisingly profound.
Quantum physics—the study of atoms and particles—has found that at our simplest anatomical level we are all floating particles. There is literally no real end or beginning to ourselves or others. In his creation, God has given us a startling metaphor of how we are all connected. Yet, in our individualistic culture, we have little understanding of how we belong to others and others belong to us.
In God’s eyes, we are all part of the same neighbourhood. We are all welcome, we all belong, we are all connected through the love of the Father. When we understand that we have more in common with the gangster or the addict—or the annoying person at church—than we have differences, we begin to close the gap between ourselves and ‘them’.
This is what The Salvation Army’s Self Denial Appeal is about. Our neighbour is the person on the other side of the world who needs help—because the other side of the world is not that far when we see with the eyes of God.
This week, I have the great pleasure of welcoming talented journalist Hugh Collins to the team. He comes to us from a stint at Newshub. He is also a musician, and committed to the values of Christ—saying he believes being a Christian is more about asking questions than having answers. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading his stories over the coming months.
Ingrid Barratt
Editor
Bible verse
Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matiu 6:20
Erangi pūrangatia mō koutou he taonga ki te rangi, ki te wāhi e kore ai e whakangaro te huhu, te waikura, ki te wāhi hoki e kore ai e keri te tāhae, tāhae ai.