Beautifully imperfect

The Molokai Times
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

By J. Kalani English

My work allows me to travel often. Whether to Honolulu for meetings and the legislative session, to the mainland to keep abreast of national developments, or across the Pacific as the president of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, I often find myself away from my home in Hana. Since I enjoy travel and the chance to gain new knowledge, these trips are a welcome part of my life. But I never lose the joy of returning home.

On those days when I can enjoy a quiet lifestyle and the comfort of familiar surroundings, it sometimes occurs to me that I have weeds in my yard and in my gardens. It's not so many that I need to feel ashamed to be derelict in my duties as a homeowner, but enough that my grounds look nothing like the perfectly manicured fairways that we envision when we think about rural perfection. Looking around, I notice that my neighbors also have weeds, and I think no less of them for it. I'm guessing even Oprah has weeds.

The news from around our state hasn't been very good lately. Our economy appears to be slowing, businesses are closing, and we're losing jobs. Fuel costs are going up, taking with them the price of just about everything we buy. Air travel is less convenient and more expensive than ever before. A lot of people are pointing fingers, mumbling about how bad things are, and asking if they will ever get better.

All of those concerns are legitimate. Yet I think it's safe to say that none of us are going to freeze this winter because we can't afford to fuel our furnaces. We're not worried about the town snowplow breaking down.

I share the concerns of the community about our friends, families and neighbors who have lost their jobs or are having trouble making ends meet. But I also share our community's commitment to helping those who need help. That could mean making sure someone has a place to stay, giving neighbors the products of our gardens, or offering to share a ride. At its most basic level, it is a matter of keeping a broad focus on what is happening around us, how others are affected, and asking what we can do to help. And as ingrained as that attitude is in our local culture, it is not necessarily a view you would find everywhere.

Yet, it is something for us to be proud of.

Whatever our challenges — individually and as a community — a gentle change of perspective shows us that if we simply apply the old notion of "count your blessings," we are overwhelmed by the abundance of our surroundings. It is as clear as our clean air — vog notwithstanding — and as warming as our year-round sunshine. It is as comforting as time spent with 'ohana, and as invigorating as a moment in the surf.

It might be nice if the world were endless, flawless, rolling green hills. But for me, I think I will go out and pull some weeds, plant my garden and then enjoy what I have: an imperfect but beloved home.

Original article URL: http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/885164456.asp

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