“Seven Generations”
“My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe
in me through their message.”
(John 17:20)
In some Native American tribes, when the elders are confronted with a very important major decision, they they imagine that there are children sitting in front of them—children from 7 generations in the future. They ask themselves how their decisions might impact these children. From a bit of reading I have done on American indigenous people, I would imagine they would ask themselves such questions as:
- Is the wellbeing of these children truly being considered?
- Will the land and the water provide for their needs?
- Will the children look back and be grateful for the decision?
The elders make their decisions only after imagining how the children will impacted 7 generations later.
I shared this story with the congregation on Sunday and also stated that Jesus understood the importance of the idea of looking ahead. In his prayer for his disciples, he prayed for all future disciples as well. This is actually a prayer that Jesus prayed for us! So it is important to ask ourselves what it is that Jesus wanted for us. In a sentence, what Jesus wanted for us is that we would be one through God’s deep and unconditional love.
Just imagine what our world would be like today if people seven generations ago acted in love for us and made every decision based upon the same kind of love that God has for all people! Just imagine what our world can be like seven generations from now if we can all begin to love the children who will be our great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren! Let us indeed imagine such a world…and make decisions knowing that it is possible!
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 his message from this past Sunday. 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.
“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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