During these bitterly cold January evenings, Nancy and I have been trying to warm ourselves by remembering our visit to Hawaii. Memories of those welcoming waves, tropical breezes, sandy beaches, and sunny days warm the soul if not the body and draw us back for more. I’m sure Kilauea’s erupting lava would also raise the thermometer a few degrees as well.
America’s fiftieth state is certainly one of the most diverse in flora and fauna and holds many beautiful surprises for all who visit. Stunning waterfalls, pristine beaches, and picturesque palm trees greet guests at every turn. It also holds many spiritual lessons for those with eyes to see them.
Sadly, many Hawaiian natives take their beauty for granted just as we do here in the Shenandoah Valley. One hazard of being a regular recipient of God’s abundant blessings is ingratitude as we grow accustomed to the sights, sounds, and people that surround us. What a privilege it is to wake up each morning to the graceful profile of the Massanutten Mountain, spectacular sunrises, and abundant wildlife. Many never get to experience any of these, much less all three.
Another lesson we learned is that many things look better from a distance. Although Honolulu often appears glamorous in the movies, and much of it certainly is, like every other American city, it too has its share of traffic jams, trash, potholes, and homelessness. How often we gaze at famous and wealthy entertainers and think how great they have it, only to find out differently upon closer examination. This underscores the truth that every place on this planet (even supposed paradises) and every person on this planet (even the rich and famous) have been spoiled and infected with sin. We must be cautious of thinking others have it better than we and instead enjoy the abundant blessings God gives us each day right where we are.
Also, like the rest of the planet, Hawaii faces the challenges of invasive species from other locations. Because the Hawaiian ecosystem has been isolated from the rest of the world for centuries, it has no predators to control wild pigs, rats, and brown tree snakes that have been introduced. And that’s just the critters. Invasive plants like the African Tulip tree also outcompete native growth. While they are very beautiful, they hijack a portion of this ecological utopia from the less aggressive local varieties. Although it looks like a perfect paradise, Hawaii has its problems too.
We didn’t find Puff or any other magic dragons in Hanalei, but we did find some delicious shaved ice as we gazed up at the very rugged volcano-chiseled mountains. Here and there a rainbow arched across a waterfall cascading downward from the wettest spot on earth. Although occasional rains may dampen some vacation itineraries, both waterfalls and rainbows would not exist without them. Once again, we not only take precipitation for granted, we often complain when it complicates or cancels our plans.
Hawaii can also help us more fully understand another Scripture that assures us that when we confess our sins, God removes them as far as the east is from the west. From here, Hawaii is roughly an 11-hour non-stop flight requiring passengers to pack plenty of reading, watching, or listening material. Of course, layovers extend the journey necessitating even more endurance, and destinations further west are even worse. Although planes flying north will eventually fly south after topping the North Pole, one can fly west continually without ever going east. And that’s the analogy David uses in Psalm 103:12 to help us understand how infinitely far God, through Jesus’ blood, removes our sins from us.
There are many lessons to learn from a Hawaiian visit, and we hope to learn more on a future trip. But even if we’re not able to, I pray that each of us might appreciate the blessings of God each day where we already are, especially His eternal forgiveness. Blessings, George