Are you investing in Moai? No, I’m not talking about those massive heads on Easter Island, I’m talking about the Japanese word Moai, which means “A group of lifelong friends, A social support group that forms in order to provide varying support from social, financial, health, or spiritual interests.”
“Let us, as well, stir up one another’s minds to energetic effort in love and good works. We mustn’t do what some people have got into the habit of doing, neglecting to meet together. Instead, we must encourage one another, and all the more as you can see the great day coming closer.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NTE)
Over the last week I have been engrossed in the limited Netflix docu-series ‘Live to 100 Secrets of the Blue Zones’, it’s a series that essentially focuses on one guy who is visiting communities around the world where they have a consistently high number of individuals not only living to 100, but living healthy, productive lives all the way into their hundreds.
There were lots of little takeaways from this series, which was full of the results of long-term scientific study around the what and why these people were reaping these life and health benefits. But more than anything else, I was struck by how the things that appeared to be making the most difference in the lives of these hundred year olds, had so much crossover with the Bible. Granted the practices came under different names, but ultimately they were practices that Jesus and his disciples had modelled during their time on earth.
So, Moai. In Hebrews 10:24-25 it talks about people meeting together, stirring each other up, and encouraging one another. And then, in Acts 2:42-47, you can see that the early Christians ate together, they had things in common, they supported each other financially, and met every day. If this isn’t a ‘Moai’ then I just don’t know what is.
At Zion we are in a season of Temple and Table, and it’s been a transition that hasn’t always been easy. But then there is Moai, our Table groups are Moai. When we invest in our Table groups we build into the spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, and even financial health of the people we Table with, and they do the same for us. So that means that by joining a Table group, and regularly building into the individuals in your group, basically doing life with them, you are extending your life, and chances are, you are improving your health, growing in your maturity and relationship with God, and you are going to be more joyful.
I think that it is time for all of us to really invest in our Table groups. Don’t just join one, get to know the members of the group. Do life with them. Have meals. Share your interests. Attend things together. Walk, talk, pray, worship, cry, laugh, dance, sing, celebrate, mourn. Do all the things together, and reap the benefits of a life lived together with God at the center.
Karla Rose