I love Psalm 139, don't you? This psalm is a prayer by a man who called on the Lord his God who knows him, who is ever with him, and who watches over him,. It was penned, not by a perfect man, but by a broken man -- a caring psalmist who loved his God and served the people as their greatest king.
As someone who's about to embark on a trip (Lord willing) to Oahu, I loved reading the following lines in this psalm:
You see me when I travel.
You know everything I do.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
If I dwell by the farthest ocean, even there your hand will guide me.
How precious are your thoughts toward me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
Isn't that great! It's almost as though these words were written just for yours truly -- one who travels annually to the farthest ocean and delights in the grains of sand!
The place where you grew up is often special because of the memories it holds and because of the experiences that shaped who you are. It was here that I came to know Christ as an 8-year old. God led a mainlander named Rudy Ulrich to start a church in Kailua. One Sunday night the Lord used his preaching to draw me to himself. I will never forget that man. I owe everything to him. A week later I was baptized at Kailua Beach. Little wonder the ocean in Hawaii holds deep significance for me. Over 70% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, highlighting its essential role in sustaining life on this earth. The beach became an essential part of my identity. It shaped my personal experiences and always evoked feelings of peace and tranquility.
People who were born and raised in the islands aren't just laid back. They're ocean-raised, island-trained, plate-lunch-addicted kamaaina. It's all about sandy feet, salty hair, and being uncomfortable wearing anything other than swim shorts. For locals, "turn left at the banyan tree" means more than Google maps. If your slippahs break, shoes are not an option. You just go barefooted. At Waikiki, lines of surfers wait patiently for the next set of waves, reading the ocean with an acumen that only years of experience can produce. In just over a week, I hope to be one of them.
Alas, we do not know what a day will bring forth let alone a week. So we keep the main the main thing. In the words of Psalm 139, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."
Have a wonderful day!