A L O H A

 Aloha was the very best word I could think of to describe yesterday’s events in our community.

We celebrated the induction of our very own Rev. Erica Maclennan, and bid adieu to seminary intern, Marc Fortin. In other words, a time for welcoming back into our fold, and a time for letting go. A time of hello and goodbye.

Almost everyone has heard of this word, Aloha, and may know that it is commonly used as both a greeting and a parting.

What most of us do not know, however, is the deeper meaning of this word. In native Hawaiian, it means:

PRESENCE OF (alo) SPIRIT (ha)

There was no question of the presence of Spirit during the service, or afterwards as we gathered for a light potluck lunch, followed by words of gratitude, reflection, and some thoughts on Whitsun.

One can also ask, what does the Spirit of Aloha stand for? Even though this concept goes back thousands of years in Hawaiian culture, there are many words that one would also hope to ascribe to being a Christian: kindness, harmony, modesty, patience, compassion, gratitude. It is the coordination of mind and heart within each individual, in order to bring each person to the Self. It is a way of life and the essence of relationships that recognizes each person as important to every other person for collective existence.

This is so important, that in 1986, Hawaii passed a law called, the Aloha Spirit Law. It requires that all lawmakers, judiciary and government officials, from the governor on down, take it into consideration when making decisions. It was to be recognized as the working philosophy of native Hawaiians, and as a healing impulse for people all around the world.

Sparky