We are off to Alaska tomorrow where this picture of Rhonda was taken a couple of years ago. If you’ve ever been there you were probably shocked by how large and beautiful the flowers are. If you’re like me you couldn’t look past the reputation for glaciers and cold to realize that 23 hours of sunlight in the summer produces the most amazing plants and produce.
Hawaii also has gorgeous flowers. If you go you will be greeted by a beautiful Lei. This is a traditional Polynesian greeting of affection exchanged between chiefs. It symbolizes peace.
Just some Hawaii etiquette; It is impolite to refuse a Lei or to take one off in the presence of the person who gave it to you. There are a number of verses about flowers in the Bible. As a worrier, I need to remind myself of Luke 12:27;
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”
Another often referenced verse is Isaiah 40:8:
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God endures forever.”
The flowers in your Lei are beautiful but they won’t last. Like our lives they are very ethereal. They will be gone in a very brief time. We take comfort in this promise however that God’s word lives forever, and in his Word he has promised Christians eternity with him in Heaven. Imagine eternity in a paradise more beautiful than Hawaii.
P.S. We will actually have two groups in Alaska tomorrow. We have meetings about our trip to Alaska in 2016 on October 21, and 22. We have a lot of people already signed up and these trips sell out every year. You can find details on our website. Please RSVP
Also we’ll be in Hawaii for a 10 day 3 Island trip this January. Escape the cold snow for tropical islands with beautiful flowers. Contact us for details on this very high quality very inclusive tour.