Consider Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii which has been described as heaven on earth with sparkling turquoise water and golden beaches. Now, think about the recent devastating wildfires that have reduced it to smoldering rubble. Think about having loved ones there or having to flee. However, one of the saddest accounts reported from news outlets is the choice that many people had to make between waiting for the fire to overtake them or jumping into the ocean! Of course, for many, the ocean would surely be a better choice IF you could swim. That was not the case for many who chose the ocean and they unfortunately met a tragic end.
Thinking of that awful option should give us pause and encourage us to put things in perspective when comparing some of the choices we have had to make recently. Perhaps:
- Pepsi or Coke vs the fire or the ocean
- Ibuprofen or Tylenol vs the fire or the ocean
- Using your walker or your cane vs the fire or the ocean
- Chicken or ham vs the fire or the ocean
- Green beans or salad vs the fire or the ocean
- Popping up early or sleeping late vs the fire or the ocean
- What shoes or clothes to wear vs the fire or the ocean
- Reading the Bible or Facebook vs the fire or the ocean
Living mahalo is more than writing a gratitude list or telling someone thank you at a supermarket, although these are honorable things to do. Living mahalo is a constant attitude of gratitude. It is knowing that there is a God, whom we owe everything to. Someone said that “It would be disrespectful to God to be ungrateful.” Mahalo is recognizing and trusting in God, that his plan and ways are greater than our own. It is knowing that he, as the creator, has given us all these things and supports us, even from one breath to another.
When it rains, as it frequently does in Hawaii, our hearts are always full of gratitude. As the sun shines, we are grateful. When we go to the beach and swim, feel the warmth of the waves, and interact with the sea animals, our hearts are full of gratitude. When we go to the mountains and hear the birds sing, the wind whistle through the trees, and the lava flowing continuously, we are grateful. (Source: naturallyaloha.com)
In the wake of loss and disaster, we struggle to understand how a God who is all-powerful and all-knowing can also be considered good and loving. Remember that we live in a fallen world and when man fell into sin, all of nature was affected, so it is not possible to have a perfect environment. It doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care.
One of the greatest challenges we have as Christians is to somehow continue to believe God and to trust him in the midst of horrendous devastation. When lives are being shattered and so much destruction is happening, it is natural to wonder, “Where is God?” We need to realize that God can be trusted, even when it SEEMS as if he is against us. Remember that God intervened in our world by sending his only begotten son to the cross for us. Martin Luther said, “When you look around and wonder whether God cares, you must always hurry to the cross and you must see him there.” Also, remember that time is short but eternity is long.
After all of Job’s disasters, his wife told him to curse God and die, but he responded, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job demonstrates that it is possible to worship God even without explanations, when we don’t know all the reasons.
Let us remember those who are suffering near and far, grieve with them, and pray for them.
MAHALO KE AKUA. THANKS BE TO GOD.
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