Broken but bound - navei

05/02/07 , by Posted by: admin

Motu ka na’e navei

Broken but bound

A couple of winters ago I was sitting in a tiny Italian cafe in north London. It was a rainy English afternoon and I was trying to pacify its dull grayness with a warm cup of drinking chocolate. As I watched school children in their pristine suits and Wellington boots hurry past and black cabs splashing water onto the sidewalks I remember feeling like I was smack dab in the middle of Europe – and a million miles away from the comforting blue sea and warm sunshine of the pacific. The walls around me were stocked with all sorts of pastas and culinary delights. I sipped my drinking chocolate and flipped through the days papers –

I picked up The Times and aimlessly flipped through its pages only for the title ‘Tongans shivering in Oxford’ to catch my eye. The Times is one of England’s most reputed papers – acclaimed for both its quality of writing and integrity to substance. At the time Tonga’s rugby team was touring Europe and the article playfully highlighted its lack of organization and basic equipment – rain jackets. The boys played a friendly match in Oxford and they had no warm gear to protect them from the winter elements. Hence the title – Tongans Shivering in Oxford. Though the article did little to encourage a positive view of Tonga – I still felt glad that it was there. I was happy the paper knew Tonga exists.

It’s easy to hang on to the many problems that afflict Tonga. It seems that everything has gone wrong. From the imploding government to the fraying national rugby team. Our hearts ache with each bout of bad news that comes our way. Tonga doesn’t have the most glowing portrayal in the media and the truth is – its dismal reputation is not entirely undeserved. Things are a mess.

I can’t remember when I first heard the proverb – “motu ka na’e navei” but I have held on to it in my heart for a while. It paints a picture of a fresh green coconut basket – fraying because of the weight of its contents but still bound because of the strong backbone of the basket. To me it speaks a truth that is difficult to bear – that things are actually broken. They’re not breaking, maybe gonna break – cracked somewhere – they’re broken – but something is holding it all together.

Sometimes we try to redeem the mess we're in with accolades and status symbols that we hope will detract from the pain we've suffered, the mistakes we've made and the shame we feel. We must affirm and celebrate each others success and triumphs - but remember that our redemption is not found in our own accomplishments.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of  'hope as an anchor for the soul, firmed and secured'. As we find ourselves reflecting on the many challenges facing our beloved Tonga and the many challenges we face in our own life we need the security of knowing that there is a safe harbour we can always anchor. When we feel  our spirit may be breaking or is already shattered we must remind ourselves the promise of that which is firm and secure -which can really hold things together. St Paul tells us as he wrote to the Colossians - and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Lord Jesus. He remids us that over all these virtures we must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

In Christ we are promised new life. His grace is sufficient for us - for our troubles, our shame our hopes and our fears.  He is the ultimate backbone - He is alive and constantly at work - a firm and real hope - something  to hold on to in the midst of every season.  He has no delusions about us, our mess, and our brokeness.

'To live in Christian Hope is to live in the expectation that by God’s grace things can change. Death and disease do not have the last word about human destiny. Peace is possible and reconciliation can occur. We are to live and pray towards these ends – knowing that good works and noble deeds often meet with victory and defeat’ - Daniel Migliore.

Heather Vaikona lives in St Albans, UK with her husband and their two sons, Christian and Elijah. She is finishing her MA in Cross Cultural Studies. She is a graduate of Queen Salote College, likes drinking chocolate, and loves Tonga.

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• July 9, 2007, 12:45 am - Naki Misa

  Heta,

  The picture you've painted about "navei" is indeed one I can easily hang on the wall of my life as a constant reminder that although broken yet constantly bound by HIS grace.

  Navei is such a strong metaphor about how Christ's grace and mercy can bind and build one's life up.

  Malo 'aupito for this clip and I'll try and invite my friends to visit and be blessed by visiting.