“Piha I Ka Lokomaikaʻi”: Filled with Grace” is this year’s tri-campus spiritual theme.

During my time in seminary working on my master’s degree, I did an internship with the Office of Justice and Witness for the Hawaiʻi Conference, United Church of Christ.

My mentor, the Rev. Neal McPherson, challenged me to start the day with the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other. This was meant to get me to look at the events taking place in the world and to find a way to respond Biblically rather than merely by my emotions.

This pushed me out of my comfort zone and to look at things from a very different viewpoint and to live life according to Micah 6:8.

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”  (New Living Translation)

“Ua hō‘ike mai nō ia iā ‘oe, e ke kanaka, i ka mea maika‘i; A he aha ka mea a ke Akua i kauoha mai ai iā ‘oe.  Ke ‘ole e hana i ka pono, a e aloha i ka lokomaika‘i, A e ho‘oha‘aha’a i ka hele ‘ana me ke Akua?”

For us to live Godly lives, we need to look at life with open eyes so we might see what is taking place around us. There are things taking place that should bother us, but instead of taking action, we’ll turn away.

It’s not until things reach a highpoint, then we might do something.

What would happen if we began by seeking God’s word and seeing how Jesus lived his life so that we might understand how we are to live?  If we did, I’m sure that we would be able to have a strong moral foundation so if we were to be faced with a challenge or see a need, we would be able to do what is right.

Having that pono foundation will shape our response when we are wronged.

In the Kānāwai Mālamahoe, or the Law of the Splintered Paddle, Kamehameha the Great showed that he “loved mercy.” While attempting to attack two fishermen, he got trapped in a crevice in the lava and was struck on the head by one of the fisherman.

When the fisherman who did that was brought before him, Kamehameha could have easily ordered his death. Instead, he showed mercy recognizing that the man was just protecting his land and family.

May we strive to be pono people by laying a strong foundation for our lives by doing what is right, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.  Ke Akua pū.