“Treasures in Clay Jars”
We have this treasure in clay jars,
so that it may be made clear
that this extraordinary
power belongs to
God….
2 Corinthians 4:7
On Sunday, I talked about what it means to be baffled—something we all feel at times and have probably been feeling a lot lately. In his book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old, Parker Palmer talks about bafflement in terms of vocation and calling. Although we normally crave certainty and wisdom when it comes to what God has placed us here on Earth to do, we usually don’t really know the details of our journey until we actually come upon them. God has certainly not been very clear with me about the upcoming particulars of my journey, but one thing I have discovered is that God keeps showing up! Whether I am walking with confidence, carefully putting one foot in front of the other, or stumbling over my own two feet, I find that God is present wherever I land.
During these uncertain and baffling times of new territory for our church, community, nation and world, I urge you to look for the ways that God shows up wherever you are. The Apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Corinth about the light of God that shines in the darkness, even shining in our hearts when even they seem dark. Indeed, God shows up in all of our dark places. Paul went on to write, “We have this treasure in clay jars.” God is the treasure and we are the clay jars (also translated earthen vessels). Parker Palmer writes that our words are also the clay jars. In fact, anything that we use to carry the light of God’s love is the clay jar. What an extraordinary spiritual truth that the Creator of the Universe chooses us to carry divine love with us into the world.
I invite you to not only look for how God is showing up during these baffling times, but to also carry the light of God as a privilege and an honor everywhere you go, and offering it to everyone who needs it.
I look forward to continuing the conversation online on Sunday!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
To see a video of a recent message by Kahu Akana, click HERE. You may 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.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To see our Sunday morning schedule, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
To learn more about Kahu Akana (and the rest of the staff at Koloa Union Church), click HERE.
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