May Blog - Women's Ministry

The River

It was evening, a day which had been filled with family fun. As I recounted the prior hours and the wonders God had let us be a part of, the morning started with tropical warmth along the Anahulu River, paddle-boarding. The Anahulu is a gorgeous lazy river on Oahu.

Unsure of my athletic ability, or perhaps better said, my lack thereof, I climbed aboard my personal “river craft”, I got my ankle strapped to the board and an oar handed to me. With a quick question from the rental shop attendant, and a gentle shove from the ramp, into the river I went. Floating backwards and I learned quickly how to effectively steer the board, made it to the middle of the river and waited for the rest of my family to launch from the side. Gathering, we started moving down river, holding our balance and moving the oar from side-to-side propelling us forward. It was incredible, breath-taking beauty, and warm like a cozy blanket outside; we enjoyed the beauty God created from our perch on our paddle boards. Going a short distance, we saw our first sea turtle sneak his head through the glassy plane of the water, and just as quickly, retract it back under, and dive to a depth where we could no longer see him.

Continuing down the river, we repeated this type of sighting several times. The turtles also swam under our boards and some we could see lay on the bottom of the river. Going around a bend in the river, we saw one sunning itself on the bank. It was huge, it looked like a boulder, and as we passed it, the turtle moved its head confirming it was not a rock, but a turtle delighting in the warmth of the morning sun. As we paddled further, we saw fish flitting around, they jumped out of the water and seemingly held a game of chase, which rippled the surface of the water. We heard a melodic song of several types of birds. We enjoyed greeting others who were on the river that we passed, or greeting those going the opposite way.

Our day carried on, with Hawaiian shaved ice (oh my goodness, so refreshing and good!), fresh shrimp (yum!), and a hunt for treasures of sea-glass at Sand Island, where the surf pounds into the beach at a steady pace. Each wave brings in and at the same time uncovers the unique opportunity to discover all the different colors of glass and shells. Walking for a little over an hour, we had a full collection of glass and shells. Holding the sea glass, I observed its smooth edges and foggy clarity. I was reminded how God shapes us as I looked at it. How we are sin natured and reflecting on my life, remembering daily trials and unusual challenges…I am invited into dependance on Him. My thoughts took me to the “sharp edges” we have, the refinement He cares enough to engage us with. And when we feel beat-up by the world, He washes over us. Amen, ladies. While we might appear to be “foggy” to this world, we are seen clearly by the LORD as His beautiful creation.

I see reminders of His beauty in the chaos of the ocean. His creation on the river, out of chaos, God brings forth beauty from the ocean. He refines and gives gentle edges in a coarse world to those who follow Him. God hones us for His purpose, His good, and desires His best for us.

- Traci Hollingsworth