Don’t ask me what my favorite activity was from Hawaii.  There were too many to pick from!  Swimming with dolphins … body surfing in the ocean … the luau … the submarine tour … Pearl Harbor … the Jurassic Park tour.  It is almost unfair.  But if you MADE me pick one, I would choose the canoe ride.

We had seen the canoes go out every day on the ocean.  When we found out it was a free service the hotel offered, we signed up immediately.  Now, a boy from the Kansas suburbs like me, I knew the basics of paddling, but fighting the current in the ocean?  Yeah, that was where we would need the guides.  Two guides per canoe were provided. 

A soft breeze blew off the ocean.  Blue skies hung above us with a few white puffy clouds floating serenely.  The 8:00 am sun was shining but not blistering.  Solomon, our guide, waved us over for instructions.  It was hard to pull my oldest out of the ocean.  The kid LOVED to body surf!  I am pretty sure either my wife or I had to count down for him to get out.  But he made it! 

The four of us soaked in Solomon’s wisdom of the canoe.  There was a specific spot for each of us, and there were firm directions on how to enter and exit the canoe.  Otherwise, it would tip!  We even learned some Hawaiian words, commands for rowing.  Solomon would call it out, and we would switch rowing one side to the other.  It seemed pretty simple.  Before we knew it, we shoved off the beach and entered the Pacific. 

Between Solomon’s chants, I got to know him.  Where he was from.  What he loved.  We immediately found a connection in football.

“Who is your team?” I asked.

“Chiefs, man!” he quickly answered.  “I love Mahomes and Kelce!”

This guy was my new best friend.  Like seriously.  We hit it off just fine.  I asked questions.  He answered.  One question led to the next.  Some were low key and fun.  Others were more toward his heart.  I found out Solomon was “related to 90 percent of the population on Maui.”  He loved Alabama and Chiefs football.  He answered all my questions about the history of Maui, and he totally baited me into a good one.

“Hey, what is that helicopter up there for?” I asked, looking into the morning sun.  “Are they taking people out on tours of the island?”

“Nah, man, they’re looking for the people who were lost out here last week,” Solomon said, not batting an eye.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?” I asked, mesmerized.

He paused just the right amount of time and then began cracking up.  He had me! 

It was about that time that Solomon let us throw some goggles on and dive off the canoe into the ocean to explore the beauties under the sea.  (Anyone else thinking of the Little Mermaid now?)  The refreshing ocean cooled my skin.  My family dove in and saw colorful fish, wavy sea urchin, two enormous sea turtles, and a frightened little octopus that hid beneath some coral. 

It was awkward as all get out getting back IN the canoe.  My sons swung their legs over so much easier than I did, and Solomon had to give me a pep talk after my first attempt failed miserably.  But we got back in, paddled back to shore, and sadly had to say our goodbyes. 

That was the embarrassing part.  After saying goodbye to Solomon—pretty sure we did a bro hug—his partner, the guy in the back of the boat, came up to shake my hand.  I saw it in his eyes.  He was looking for the tip.  Crud!  I left my wallet in the hotel room, and it only had three bucks in it to begin with.  Well, I guess he gets to be immortalized in my blog today for doing his job right.  He served selflessly, and he did an amazing job. I shook his hand anyways with a sheepish smile.

So, what can we learn from this?  As Christians we are called to take an interest in others.  Hebrews 13:16 states, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  That was so enjoyable for Solomon.  And for me!  To just do good and share.  Get to know someone.  Meet them where they are at.  Tell some stories.  Make some connections.

How often do I miss out on connecting with others because I am distracted by my phone.  Last summer I did a research study where I was waiting with a group of 30 or so people.  When I walked in, nobody was talking.  But I soon saw an old colleague friend, Anne Stowers, and began chatting with her.  It was so fulfilling to catch up!  The rest of the people there were buried in their phones.  They missed out!

John 13:34-35 puts it best when Jesus proclaims, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love.  That is what it all boils down to.  Heartfelt, compassionate, beautiful love.  Be that love to others today.  If you are waiting in a long line at Target or to pick up your order at Chipotle, be bold.  Talk to a stranger.  Be like Solomon and take a genuine interest in somebody.  My good friend Travis Bowman did this once.  The stranger he talked to opened up to him about a problem, and guess what?

Travis prayed for him on the spot!

That is love, my friends.  That is what Jesus wanted us to be.  My challenge for you today is to do the same.  Take interest in someone else.  It could be a stranger, a neighbor, a loved one, a friend … anyone!  Discover something new about that person.  Have a good old-fashioned conversation without a destination.  Ask questions.  Connect!  And if the opportunity comes to talk about your Christian faith comes, jump on it.

I leave you with one of my favorite scriptures from Paul …

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)