And all God's children said, "Huh?"

Not all God's children said Huh, but we did. After listening to a particularly confusing epistle reading this morning (First Corinthians 8: 1-13. Help us here. Anybody? We usually catch on pretty quickly, but not this time: It has to do with eating, and not eating, and eating meat, and not eating food offered to idols. And some other stuff.).

That was at Lihue Lutheran, which today celebrated its 125th anniversary with a two-and-a-half-hour festival service, followed by a luau for 500 people. The bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson, preached, and the bishop of the Pacifica Synod, Murray Finck, presided. We felt privileged to be there.




Every table for eight had a flower arrangement; there were palms and flowers all over the place; there was music and hula dancing and drums; and a menu of kalua pork, teri chicken, mac salad, one scoop rice, lomi lomi salmon, cellophane chicken noodles, and poi, which Dan thinks is the Hawaiian Lutheran version of lutefisk. You have to eat it.

And the cakes! Lilikoi. Guava. Mac nut. Halupia. Some form of decadent chocolate. They were fabulous.

Dan wound up the courage to talk with Bishop Hanson, and thanked him for keeping the ELCA under control, which must be very hard to do. Dan explained that we had been on staff at Holden Village for a year but were only able to last six months because of all the overt political overtones and activism. The bishop was very gracious and understanding.

Now, a few words from Susan:

A sweet day. Wafffles on the lanai, after waking to an alarm clock! We have been anticipating this worship service since we were invited a year ago. It was elaborate, in food, music, dance and flowers. A beautiful blend of Hawaiian praises (pules) and old standard hymns. Then we head for home, driving past the Sleeping Giant, which watches over the Old Kapaa Town. Which reminds me . . .

The Pose of the Day is Anjali Mudra, or Namaste. (No pose . . . you know I always take Sundays off :-) Just stop, breathe in and out, and notice how everything lifts its heart towards God. The Trees and Flowers, the Mountains, as if giving thanks for creation. I give thanks for you, all those I love back home, and here, for more blessings than I can count. "Namaste."

We spend the afternoon at the pool and read and swim, sip fruit juice and enjoy meeting our temporary neighbors.

Home to grill chicken, which we will serve with a coriander chutney: yogurt with cilantro, mint, serrano chile, green onion, fresh lemon, honey and sea salt. Then who knows, maybe we'll lay on the lawn and count the stars. (Dan: Or maybe we'll have some drinks and watch Desperate Housewives . . .)

Blessings on your day of rest!

Love, Dan and Susan