Probably 99% of all heading to the mid Pacific Islands do so with childlike joy and excitement, the anticipation of tropical adventures filling the soul. Having spent many childhood summers in Oahu, visiting cousins, living like a local, Hawaii's charm is modest. Hawaii's major attraction, like most of our family's winged excursions focus on family. Having taken Carrie and our boys on many visits there, the island's tropical tourist magic is mostly absent. Sure, the islands have unique views and beauty. Rich, vibrant green shag covers the pali face and when rain is recent, long slender white tendrils of water falls from great heights to the floor below. Lush vegetation sans poisonous snakes beckons exploration. Vibrant tropical fish hug reefs, along with sea turtles and hosts of creatures awaiting easy visitation to snorkelers. Indeed, many call it paradise.
Yet, as I prepare to take my mom there to visit her aging sister, my favorite auntie and uncle, their health waning, and as we travel headlong into the recent absence of her other sister, I can honestly say our trip has a sobering cloud encroaching this return to the islands. This year for us has been a year of loss. This year for many of our friends has been the same. One thing learned as I head toward my demise, time is the only commodity we have that is ours to spend and share with others. It also strikes me that upon heavenly arrival, time becomes an irrelevant feature, no clock, no calendar, at least as we know it. Another thing learned is that living a life with little regret is attainable when we make time to be with those we love, clearly demonstrating our love through the most challenging of circumstance. This is why I choose to go and be with those I love, even though deepening such relationships rips at our hearts when they move off planet, separation another feature devoid in heaven.
My father always found time to be at certain family events; graduations, weddings, family gatherings, he thought it important to be there. That connection garnered great love and admiration from all family members, all of their lives rocked by dad's absence. It is a singular legacy that I would like to emulate as we head toward retirement, staying connected with family. In today's world, it is a challenging feat. Many things consume us, for all the wrong reasons. What if most of getting this life 'right' is being with people, the joy of knowing them better, valuing their souls, ushering one another towards eternity with the Father? Was that not what Jesus did?
Jesus also took time to be alone with His Father. Part of why I like to fly kites is that, while I can be surrounded by people, the simplicity of this time causes me to stop life, thankful for any wind allowing my single and multi-stringed sails flight, and I can be alone with Him even in a crowd. Many seem to enjoy watching my kites dance through the wind. My four-stringed kite moves forward, backward, revolves, slides, sits in park benches, or rests on top trash cans and gazebos. as I learn to control it, managing gusts and ebbs as well. In many ways it is why I enjoyed body surfing and surfing. Using something I cannot control, learning and understanding that while I cannot control the wind and waves, it can be used to move me or my kite to do fun and interesting things.
It has become certainly clear to me that I cannot control God. I cannot even control my life, as much as I think I am in it's control. But kite flying and surfing has taught me that I can appreciate the waves and wind utilizing them to find rest, exercise, and time with the God of the universe, this current of wave and wind leading me to the islands with my mom and brother. I am unsure of all that will unfold, but am assured that as I press forward the God of the universe is assuredly in control for His will and His kingdom. May we each utilize our gifts at the mercy of His will to fly or surf in the heavenly kingdom for His glory.
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