“Pilgrimage of Compassion”
On Sunday morning, I led the congregation in a time of guided silent meditation as we considered the violence, racism and unrest in our nation. I began by sharing about Mother Teresa and her intentional practices of silence. Her time alone with God aloud her to hear God’s voice and find strength, direction and wisdom. I hope our time of silence and reflection will do the same for us.
I have been deeply troubled since Saturday by the overt racism displayed in Charlottesville, VA, and the ensuing violence and death. I have always known that racism exists in our country, but I never dreamed that I would see a crowd of White supremacists publicly marching with torches and chanting racist slogans on American soil.
If there is anything good that came out of the events on Saturday, it is that the darkness among us has been brought to light. We now see clearly the racism, hatred and bigotry that is deeply held by some of our fellow Americans. As much as I dislike the fact that these things are out there, I am glad they have become visible; for now we who follow the way of Jesus (and all others who value each and every human life) can see more clearly our mission and the work that is before us. As we consider this time in our nation’s history, now is the time to say “yes” to compassion, peace and justice; and now is the time to say “no” to any form of racism, hatred and bigotry.
As I participated in the Pilgrimage of Compassion at the Lawai International Center on Sunday, I felt deeply connected to people of all faiths, ethnicities, political persuasions, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and abilities. While Riley Lee played the shakuhachi flute and led people among the 88 Japanese shrines on the hillside, I imagined extending the pilgrimage throughout the world and inviting all people to walk on a pilgrimage of compassion. We were all there for one reason on Sunday: to acknowledge compassion in our world and to commit ourselves to being more compassionate. This is certainly a pilgrimage on which is worth inviting others to participate.
May we each look around us today and notice someone who needs compassion…and offer it to them…knowing that we who give compassion are just as blessed as those who receive it from us.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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Videos of Kahu’s sermons are uploaded onto YouTube most weeks. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to our church. You can also subscribe on YouTube ; that way you can receive a notification when a new sermon is posted.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
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