In the parking lot at the V.A. in Lihu'e, Kauai, Hawaii.
My intention back in early November was to blog everyday in November.
But then, one of my congregants (the mother of an 8 year old and 15 year old) passed away.
And then we got engaged*
Then the day after we got engaged, my grandfather went into the ER with abdominal pain, they found spots on his liver, which eventually led to a diagnosis of some sort of super aggressive cancer. I've been in Hawaii with my aunt, mom and grandparents, running to the pharmacy, UPS, post office, bank, V.A., grocery store, cooking meals, taking out the trash, checking the mail, running to the airport getting the paper, and trying to be present and helpful. I am back in MN now**
I love Kauai, it is absolutely my favorite, favorite, favorite place on the planet. I have never been anywhere more beautiful. My time in Hawaii filled me with so much Aloha (a term that has many of the same nuances as the Hebrew Shalom). Kauai is home to the wettest place on earth, Mount Wai'ale'ale, it is known as the Garden Island, so much rain means lots of green. When I left Kauai, on December 13, the rain gauge in my grandparent's backyard had registered 12.57" of rain. While I was getting automated messages on my cell phone from the city of Minneapolis declaring a snow emergency, the land line at my grandparent's house had a similar automated message about flash floods, "turn around, don't drown." The next day, as I waited outside a church with three Native Hawaiian women for a Zumba class that never materialized, we talked at length about "turn around, don't drown," and our experience of the storm.***
The last month, actually the last several months, have been a flood for me. The water of life is roaring quickly by, but God is faithful. Isaiah is the favorite prophet of the Christmas/Advent season. I've blogged these verses before, after our floods this summer, but here they are again.
Isaiah 43 -
1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
*(a post to come on that soon?)
**(missed the blizzard - I'm hoping that Leah will guest blog about the house in the blizzard - now I've made it public so she'll have to do it.)
*** (if I was a preacher on Kauai, I would so use, "turn around, don't drown," as a sermon title.
