October 5, 2020

If you were able to join us for (virtual) worship yesterday you heard a little bit about the Road to Hana, a.k.a. the Hana Highway (a misnomer, if ever there was one!) For three years, I drove the road at least once a week from Hana to Pukalani, Maui, a 45-mile trip one way that takes closer to 2 hours – if you happen to get lucky. The road is considered the premier drive in Hawaii. It winds its way along the north shore of Maui, through rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools, stunning seascapes, and taro fields, contains 650 curves – many of which are hairpin curves, with 59 bridges – most of which are one-lane. Premier is a very different designation from the safest or easier drives in Hawaii. Driving it is not for the faint of heart! I replaced the brakes and clutch on my 1997 Subaru once a year due to those driving conditions!

Not long after I began ministry at Wananalua Congregational Church, I heard the most amazing story about the road from a group of kupuna (elders). Talking about old times, they started sharing stories about driving the road back in the day. They said that their parents, approaching any of the one-lane bridges and seeing a car coming the opposite direction, would step on the gas. I assumed they were going to say that they stepped on the gas to beat the other driver across the bridge (I am glad that I only thought this and didn’t say it). Because here is what they said. They would step on the gas to arrive at the one lane bridge first, so that they could stop and yield the right of way to the other driver. That is aloha! And that is such a different to live! I have to wonder what a difference it would make if each of us chose – even hurried up – to get to the bridge first to yield to the other driver.

Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” 

That might include letting others finish what they are saying (and listening with our full attention) before responding; it might including letting someone else go first; it could include giving the biggest slice of cake or pizza or pie to someone else; it might mean giving to others first. And it might just change the world.

With aloha ~ Anne