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Weekly devotional: Respond with a willingness to serve

Jan. 29, 2021

Contributed by KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74

Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.

Heluhelu Baibala

A lohe ihola nō hoʻi au i ka leo o ka Haku, i ka ʻī ʻana mai, Iā wai lā wau e hoʻouna aku ai? A ʻo wai ka mea nāna e hele no kākou? A laila, ʻī akula au, Eia nō wau, e hoʻouna iaʻu. – Isaia 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

He manaʻo o ke kahu

Do you see yourself as a volunteer or a voluntold? When the call is made, are you Arnold Horshack, from Welcome Back Kotter, jumping up and down, yelling out “Ooo, ooh, Mr. Kotter, Mr. Kotter!?” Or do you sit on your hands, quickly averting your eyes so you don’t get called upon? For me, it would depend on the situation. If it’s something simple or I know it’s something that I am comfortable with, sure, I’ll volunteer. But if it’s not within my wheelhouse, maybe not.

The Hebrew people were God’s chosen people, but they strayed from that pilina. They chose to follow their hearts instead of ke Akua. Ka Haku needed someone to step into that fray and warn the rebellious folks to turn back. Isaiah, the prophet, heard the voice of God calling out, but he felt he was not worthy for he saw himself as one of the sinful ones. An angel appeared to him and assured him of his worthiness and place in ke Akua’s plan. So, he steps forth and declares, “Here I am. Send me!”

Sometimes our mission is super clear, and we know why we are sent to a place or put in a certain position. Other times, the plan unfolds as we remain faithful and are nudged along. We may not even know we are doing ke Akua’s will until we look back and see how our path had been guided along and the seeds our hana has brought forth fruit to the land.

Charles Reed Bishop had no plans to settle in Hawaiʻi when he left New York with his friend William Little Lee. They had other visions of life on the west coast, settling into the new frontier. Through the intervening hand of God, they ended up staying in the islands when their ship stopped for repair and supplies.

As opportunities arose to serve the people of Hawaiʻi, Mr. Bishop stepped up. His servanthood and concern for others was fostered by his beloved Pauahi. He helped her reach her goals and bring her visions to life. He felt the aloha she had for her people to become “good and industrious men and women” through education and executed her will to establish the Kamehameha Schools. He used everything that his wife had left him to expand that dream and created the elementary and middle schools.

Was Mr. Bishop called by God in the same fashion as Isaiah? Maybe not, but he still responded with that same willingness to serve. All that is required is for us to open our hearts and minds to ke Akua’s vision of fullness of life for all. As you are sent, whether near or far, remember to

Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.



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