• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on salvation. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Rev. Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
Our Judeo-Christian tradition tells us that after God created the ‘aina, God reflected on all he had done, and said, “It is good.”
No doubt if God had created the island of Kaua‘i first, then He would have relaxed and enjoyed his handiwork with deep satisfaction for not only one day, but at least two — and that would have bequeathed upon our heritage a two day Sabbath and a longer weekend.
There is an affirmation of beauty, goodness and peace in God’s creation. And God intended all of us to live in harmony with each other and with the ‘aina, being good stewards of his creation, preserving the land and lovingly caring for all life. And so when you see people walking along the beach picking up plastic bags and other refuse — thank them for the stewardship of God’s creation.
It reminds me of the story of a father who whenever he went hiking with his sons always took along black garbage bags to pick up trash they found along the way. One day, his older son said, “Other people don’t do this. Why do we always pick up other people’s garbage?”
The father answered, “Good question. I’ll tell you. There are three kinds of people in the world — those who do less than their share, those who do their share, and those who do more than their share. It’s important for us to decide what kind of person we are.”
Caring for the land that grows our food, the water that sustains our life, the air that gives breath to our spirit — it’s our responsibility. Let’s preserve the health and beauty of our island.
The Baha’i of Kaua‘i
As a creation of God the ‘aina deserves to be preserved and cherished. However, the natural resources and the environment of the ‘aina are being exploited and destroyed by a ‘sickness of the human spirit.’ Therefore, any lasting solution to the environmental challenges will need to recognize the spiritual nature of man, the interdependency of all humans and their relationship with the environment. To effect a lasting solution to the environmental challenges, cooperation between all peoples, governments and agencies will be required. However, the Baha’i writings point to certain trends in the world which tend to undermine the very foundations of collaboration. Among these it includes: “… the widespread lack of moral discipline, the glorification of greed and material accumulation, the increasing breakdown of family and community, the rise of lawlessness and disorder, the ascendancy of racism and bigotry, and the priority given to national interests over the welfare of humanity — all of which destroy confidence and trust, the foundations of collaboration.” It is the Baha’i position that only the abandonment of these destructive trends will create the necessary setting in which the spiritualization of humanity can be realized and the consequent unity and cooperation between humans can develop solutions to meet the environmental challenges.
Topic for two weeks
from today:
• Will you speak to us on
the motherhood?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
• Deadline each week is Tuesday, by 5 p.m.
