Hope

“We are never on our own; we are anchored in each other. We do not let go of each other.”

In this season of Thanksgiving, and as we begin the season of Advent, against a landscape of too much pain in too many places, listening to the Rev. Dr. Allan Boesak is helpful to gathering our energies for the work that makes hope possible.

Republished here with the permission of Hui Aloha `o Maui Indivisible. And with heartfelt thanks to Allan Boesak for his wisdom and faith.

Hui Aloha `o Maui Indivisible

The Rev. Danette Kong, a founding member of the “Shine Your Light” Team provides this background on the group and its initiatives.

Hui Aloha `o Maui Indivisible was initially begun right after the presidential election of 2016.  We met regularly as a grassroots group giving an alternative voice to the bombastic and nationalistic messages propagated by right-wing politicians and some religious leaders.  We began by praying together, writing opinion pieces for the local paper, taking part in peaceful protests, writing postcards encouraging people to vote, organizing and sponsoring a vigil on Maui in memory of Heather Heyer (who was killed during the right-wing demonstration in Charlottesville, VA), and holding collective times of prayer and meditation. 

Eventually, this all led to the development of our website, https://www.ShineYourLight.us prior to the election in 2020. We focused on a spiritual approach with the participation of faith leaders, musicians, and other concerned individuals from around the world, representing our country’s wide spectrum of religious interests, and providing written meditations. Members have lit candles nightly as part of their reminders to pray and bear Light. This year, we have also held Guided Meditations and Collective Times of Prayer and Meditation, as well as a Zoom Meeting with Black South African Activist and Theologian, The Rev. Dr. Allan Boesak.