Being Grateful for God's Beauty
Last week I traveled to the beautiful Island of Molokai with a group of friends from a business men’s church group that I belong to.  I wish you could have been there…but since you weren’t, let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful places on earth and to a place where I learned a valuable life lesson. 

Fifteen of us went to Molokai for a few days to rest, relax and to get to know each other on a different level.  One of the days we spent taking a guided tour of Kalapaupa, famous for isolating people with Hansen’s disease, also known as Leprosy.  Hansen’s disease, which horribly disfigured its victims, was looked upon as a curse back in the mid 1800s.  Thus, the people who acquired the disease were exiled to the North side of Molokai, where high sea cliffs became its prison walls on one side, and ocean on the other.   

At 1,600 feet, Kalapaupa is known for having the highest sea cliffs in the world.  Its sheer beauty with pristine waters surrounding untouched tropical paradise made me feel as if I was experiencing heaven on earth.  I have been to many beautiful places on this awesome planet of ours and even grew up and live on the Island of Oahu in paradise, but this place is arguably the most amazing place I have ever been to.  As we hiked down the 3 mile long sea cliffs, signs were obvious regarding the respect of the land in regards to littering.  The local saying in Hawaii is to “have respect for the aina” (land).  It was humbling to experience a place that was highly visited yet at the same time still naturally pure, untouched, undeveloped and highly respected.

The irony of Kalaupapa is that it was more famous for suffering, heart ache, pain, and sacrifice more than its beauty.  Starting in 1866 with nine men and three women who were allegedly tossed overboard and told to swim for shore, the colony eventually housed more than 8000 people. Father Damien, who came to Kalapaupa when he was 33 years old, gave his life to serve and love the unlovable.  Coming down with the disease himself, he could then relate to the suffering with the kind of compassion only exceptionally rare people in history can make claim to.  Kalpapaupa was a place known for the ultimate form of love and compassion by those who gave their lives to serve the people with this communicable disease. 

Before we hiked back up the sea cliffs, some of us spent a half an hour body surfing in the crystal clear blue waters with no one in sight for miles.  It was another fabulous addition to this unforgettable journey I will always remember.  As we hiked back up the 1,600 foot sea cliffs after the cool swim my heart was grateful to God for everything I have in life and the future anticipation of appreciating God’s beauty.  The tour to Kalaupapa certainly grew my heart to a new level of gratitude that now has a new platform to grow from. I believe it was Pastor James MacDonald who said 'It's the attitude of gratitude that sets the altitude for your life.'

 God bless, Dr. Bruce