Mar. 4, 2022
Nā kahu o Kamehameha have created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the season of Lent, to honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop. The devotionals were designed to be used by students, staffers and others to celebrate the coming of Easter.
Heluhelu Baibala
Bible reading
ʻO ka mea noho iho ma kahi malu o ka Mea kiʻekiʻe loa, e moe ʻo ia ma ke aka o ka Mea mana loa. E ʻōlelo aku au ia Iēhova, Kuʻu puʻuhonua, Kuʻu puʻukaua hoʻi; Kuʻu Akua, e paulele aku au iā ia. – Hālelu 91:1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:1-2
He manaʻo o ke Kahu
KS Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard KSK'77
This verse gives me chicken skin, why? How many of you have used the shelter of a rock to keep you from harm? The year was 1985, and my dad and I decided to visit his old fishing grounds at Punaluʻu, Kaʻū to gather ʻaʻama (crabs) for a special occasion. It was a perfectly pitch-black evening as we scaled over and around the rocky shoreline hunting for those elusive delicacies.
After two hours of bountiful gathering, we decided to turn back. We came across a tidepool that we had passed over because the surges were too high. However, now, the conditions seemed better, so we decided to take a closer look. We worked the area together and when we got to the point furthest from shore, we noticed the water in the tidepool quickly beginning to recede. We looked at each other and knew that we were in trouble. We hastily flashed our lights around us to find any kind of shelter and low and behold there was a rocky outcropping that measured about nine feet high and about four feet wide, we scrambled for its protection.
As we rushed toward it, we could hear this huge sucking noise and I shined my flashlight out to see what we were in for, the wave was gigantic. We hurried even faster towards our shelter and braced our backs against the perfectly placed fortification. We held each other’s hands and prayed for God’s favor and protection. Seconds later, the wave hit the entire tidepool with such force we could feel the power through the rock that was our place of refuge. The wave broke over our heads and completely drenched us. But we were safe, even despite the strong pull of the current as the tidepool emptied again. The rock protected us from harm; we looked at each other and laughed, with our whole catch in hand. We scampered out of there praising God our ROCK with all our whole being.
During this Lent season, our health challenges have endured, and it is easy to forget how God is our constant protection from hardship. When life seems draining and there seems to be no time or place to rest, our Rock furnishes us with safety, a place of refuge and peace. Today, give your worries to Iesū and learn to trust his purposeful placement of hope in your life.
KS Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard KSK'77 reminds us that when life seems draining and there seems to be no time or place to rest, ke Akua – our Rock – furnishes us with safety, a place of refuge and peace.