Thank You

Today is a local holiday in Hawaii known as King Kamehameha Day. It's the day we commemorate the first King of Hawaii and be thankful for his unifying of the different islands of our state. Before we were unified there was constant war between the islands with warriors leaving their loved ones and traveling by canoe to fight in a battle for whatever the battle needed to be fought. Mostly because of land issues and acquiring of resources; including labor (yes, taking of humans to work in the land).

The story of Kamehameha is a unique one, as are the stories of many leaders throughout history. I invite you to look it up to see how he was the "chosen one" to be this great king who would one day bring the people of Hawaii together as one. His battles are known as some of the best ever planned and executed and his victories are celebrated by many who follow Polynesian history.

Kamehameha, though, thanked his gods and his people for the battles he led, fought, and won. A close look at his upbringing will show how his belief in a universal being who guides all things plays a large part in his life. Not much different than the Psalmist we look at today.

Psalm 20 is known as a Psalm which intercedes with God on behalf of a leader just before going into battle. It's thought to be a Psalm which is read responsively by those fighting as well as the leader to give thanks to God before (yes before) going into battle. Imagine that; saying thanks before actually getting what you want.

Which brings me to today's thought; who do you thank before facing the battles you live in your life? The Israelites strongly believed that their God was constantly on their side and that with God's help there would only be victory. They also understood that if they were not victorious it was because they didn't have enough faith that God was on their side. This Psalm was a way of unifying them in one cause under one God.

I want you to take a few moments to think about what this life would be like if we were one people united in the one single cause of sharing unconditional love and acceptance. To that thought I just want to say Thank You, God, for giving us the strength and courage to fight the battles which lead to this one victory.