“The Blessing of Our Desires”
This past Sunday, we continued our Lenten theme of “Blessings,” based upon the late John O’Donohue’s book To Bless the Space between Us: A Book of Blessings. I included in my message on Sunday the story of how I came to Koloa Union Church. It began between five and six years ago when a Spiritual Director, with whom I had been meeting, and I had a conversation about some anticipated changes in my life. Darlene asked me, “What would bring you the greatest joy?” As I paid attention to how God was showing up in my desires and how joy was calling to me, it became clear that watercoloring Hawaii’s flowers and pastoring a church were the two things in my life that truly brought me the greatest joy. As I created a vision for my life around these two things, I found great clarity around what I was committed to for my future…and eventually found myself as the Kahu of Koloa Union Church and living in the parsonage where I paint and show my art!
It was four years ago when I moved to Koloa and began my ministry at the church. It was also just one year ago when I opened Alan Akana Gallery at the Smith Memorial Parsonage as a fundraiser to care for the parsonage. As we celebrated these special occasions on Sunday, it was truly one of the most joyful days of my life! On Sunday morning, I was presented with a beautiful lei from Rose Tatiana, who then danced while Doug sang. As I thought back to my vision that I had created over five years ago, part of that vision was “to serve a church where the people appreciated Hawaiian culture.” As I listened to Doug play and sing, and as I watched Rose dance, I was deeply moved by the awareness that God has given me the desires of my heart! At the Open House at the gallery on Sunday afternoon, this awareness became even more real as so many people came to offer their blessings, express their appreciation of my art, enjoy delicious food, music and dance! By the end of the day, I was wearing a number of beautiful lei—symbols of everlasting aloha—which were presented to me by dear friends…and I felt deeply blessed with love and joy!
I trust that everyone who heard my message on Sunday morning was motivated to bring their desires before God and ask how God might show up in those desires…with love and joy! If you didn’t get a chance to hear the message on Sunday, you can click on the link just below and watch the video. Also, be sure to drop by on Wednesday evening for soup and to talk and reflect upon the topic of the week!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of this week’s message. You may also see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
“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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