Kiwi Eats and Mission

Paul writes

– I listened to a great little interview on Radio New Zealand National today. The interviewee was Peter Janssen, author of the book Great Kiwi Eats. It was a fascinating interview in its own right, but as I listened, I couldn’t help thinking of French Philosopher Michael de Certeau’s description of the practice of “making do”, Steve Taylor’s book (especially his reflections on the significance of “festivals”), and the whole conversation around cultural engagement, story-telling, the importance of listening, mission and change.

 

 

Listen to how Janssen describes the ways that “kiwi” food has changed and been adapted, how food-makers have listened in their various cultural contexts, listened to their customers, adopted adaptive strategies to re-work and re-mix received and imported food cultures, practices and traditions, while at the same time both preserving the important “kiwi” tradition in respect of recipes etc, and yet also being willing to experiment with modifications. You don't have to be a kiwi to appreciate the implications. You could probably tell food stories in your own contexts.

 

You can listen to the interview here (scroll down). It’s downloadable as an Mp3.   

More churches should listen to and engage these kinds of conversations; reflecting as they do on their received tradition and the missional opportunities of a change cultural and historical context.