.
Post 102
February 27, 2013
Waiting Just a Little Longer
Today, I have photos of one of the wonderfully unusual black sand beaches along the "Road to Hana" (See Jan 25 blog) This one is Waianapanapa and very obscure. We happened along it just by taking an unmarked road on the way back from Hana. In fact, even though we were in a Jeep, I really did NOT want to go down this roadway. I had envisioned a road ahead like the one we had just been on, which was often only a single car-width and had no room to turn around on, drop-off to the sea on one side and steep lava walls on the other.
Well, if you can just hang on down the roller coaster ride a little longer, sometimes, the outcome is worth a little bit of discomfort. WOW, take a look.
It was raining and cold for a bit and even the surfers with wet suits were getting out. I did manage to catch a few pictures right in the curl of a wave. Years ago, I did learn to surf but on the fairly benign waters at Waikiki, not like this. While not the mountainous waves the the North Shore and international surfing championships on the Big Island, these were still pretty impressive for a flat-lander like me.
The sand itself is indeed black; very coarsely grained and had no shells and I did bring some home in a plastic bag. I have sand from all over the world; or pebbles and rocks, as the shoreline gives up. In our thinking, it may all seem like beaches should be sand but in reality, the French Riviera for example, was pitched at about a 70 degree angle down to the water and it was all stones about the size of a baby's foot. No sand in site and very cold, even in June. Same with the shore at the English Channel. Cold and rocky.
The beauty of Hawaii and the tropical climate is that it may in fact be raining and cold, but just wait for about 15 minutes and the sun will come out. January seemed also to be their winter season...I'll take it! Most of the days were about 75 degrees and sunny, most of the day.
Staying through difficulty and challenges with the love of God in his heart are things that the world is going to miss with the passing of Burnie L. Wall, age 100, from Midway, KY.
I went to the funeral of Mr. Wall yesterday who touched many lives in his 100 years. With an intellect and wit of someone 50 years his junior, Burnie mowed through foolishness as well as his own front yard, cooked his own breakfast, tied his own bow ties that were handmade by his second wife, Mamie, who fell asleep a few years ago.
I went to the funeral of Mr. Wall yesterday who touched many lives in his 100 years. With an intellect and wit of someone 50 years his junior, Burnie mowed through foolishness as well as his own front yard, cooked his own breakfast, tied his own bow ties that were handmade by his second wife, Mamie, who fell asleep a few years ago.
Snickering across the church was heard as our lady minister described how Burnie was often found by searching family members to be talking with strangers in his familiar light blue jumpsuit and cherry-red walker.
What was not spoken yesterday was what Burnie was known to speak to strangers about, and that was peace, love of God and the truths of the Bible. He was a listener of men so he could teach mankind about the truth, love, peace, grace and mercy that he had known, from a child. For somebody 100 years old, that's about 90 years of talkin' the walk and walkin' the talk.
What was not spoken yesterday was what Burnie was known to speak to strangers about, and that was peace, love of God and the truths of the Bible. He was a listener of men so he could teach mankind about the truth, love, peace, grace and mercy that he had known, from a child. For somebody 100 years old, that's about 90 years of talkin' the walk and walkin' the talk.
And that my friends, is why he was most likely still of a sound mind at that age. He was a great listener which enabled him to be a great server of God's Word. Not pushy but consistent, and he had walked the wisdom of talking about God's solutions to things without offense. His heart always, was to provide. At 100, one gains life's wisdom along the way.
When my son was turning 21, I asked men I worked with, men at church and specifically Burnie, to tell me for a book that I made my son, what Burnie thought a young man should do, or not do starting out in life. What were Burnie's instructions?
He said to learn to read and love Psalms and Proverbs in you devotion to God and that you should devote your life to something other than yourself.
He said "If you don't want to finish college, don't waste Mom and Dad's money, go get a trade", but most importantly, a young man should keep himself in a walk with God, all of his life. Everything else would fall into place if a young man would commit to doing that, every day.
Ephesians 6:1 tells us, if we honor our father and mother, we will live long upon the earth.
When my son was turning 21, I asked men I worked with, men at church and specifically Burnie, to tell me for a book that I made my son, what Burnie thought a young man should do, or not do starting out in life. What were Burnie's instructions?
He said to learn to read and love Psalms and Proverbs in you devotion to God and that you should devote your life to something other than yourself.
He said "If you don't want to finish college, don't waste Mom and Dad's money, go get a trade", but most importantly, a young man should keep himself in a walk with God, all of his life. Everything else would fall into place if a young man would commit to doing that, every day.
Ephesians 6:1 tells us, if we honor our father and mother, we will live long upon the earth.
That scripture was one of the first I taught my children, not just so they would learn to do what I told them to keep them safe and to keep me sane, but so they would learn to hear and hearken to the voice of God in their daily life.
This in turn launches long life, length of days, gain of wisdom and understanding, prosperity, health and many more promises.
This in turn launches long life, length of days, gain of wisdom and understanding, prosperity, health and many more promises.
Isn't that what most people in life want? Well, a man like Burnie knew they were not just wants that were just wishful thinking but very much available to us. Title deeds of things not seen but things to come. Things that be not but God calls them into being. Just for you, just for me.
Divine favor, blessings, triumph, victory. No hardship, no illness and no death? Not yet; not yet available, but what is available is daily conversation with the same one who made the planet we are living on, healing from diseases, prosperity, knowledge of the hidden things of the world, but don't forget to keep things in perspective. In all thy getting, get wisdom and understanding.
Burnie knew about a lot of the 900 plus promises in the Bible and appropriated them and shared them with anyone who had a need. Whenever you spoke to Burnie you knew you had a friend.
My son, forget not my teaching but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
In honor of Burnice L. Wall, October 1913 to February, 2013.
