Furmanifesto

When I was 22 I became a pastor. I was put in charge of 23 hygenically challenged, yet hilarious, middle schoolers. I had great affection for all but two of those kids, and all but two of those kids loved me back better than I loved them. It was a tremendous responsibility, a responsibility that I recognized also came with authority and privilege.

Those kids would do anything I asked them, and  because of the life change that Jesus brought to those kid’s lives, their parents were also willing to do nearly anything for me.  I knew then that only a cretin would take advantage of that situation, but I had also watched a lot of “frogs” boil themselves “in the kettle” of authority over time.  I didn’t want to be the guy that who woke up one day and realized that he was a self-centered prig who not only ordered his life according to his own preferences, but also expected those around him to accommodate those preferences as well.

My problem was that I didn’t know how to prevent this slow transformation over time.  I knew that I should be vigilant, but vigilant about what?  Then, by a stroke of providence, I attended a Youth Specialties conference on student ministries.  While I was there I attended a session where a wise man gave me the information that I was missing.  It was 14 years ago, and If I could remember his name, I’d give him credit for saying this:

“Don’t do things for people that they can or should be doing for themselves,

and don’t ever ask them to do the same for you.

Instead, do things WITH people,

and ask them to do things with you.”

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I’ve been called a people watcher.  While it’s an apt description, I prefer to refer to myself by a more technical term: “Adjunct Sociological Researcher”.

I’m naturally curious about people, and even more curious about why they are doing what they are doing when they are doing it.

Many people with this same affliction travel to shopping malls and sports arenas to carry out their investigative urges. I try to do it whenever and wherever possible. Business meetings, social settings, and special events are large-scale opportunities to do what I just naturally do.

That said, I just completed a marathon plane voyage to and from Africa.

48 hours,
20,000 miles,
9 time zones,
4 planes.

What follows are my non-scientific observations and under-researched findings about the people and idiosyncrasies of international flight:

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A year ago I was looking at an old map of Hawaii, noticing several islands not depicted on tourist maps and brochures. One in particular intrigued me since it sat just south of Kauai, and was close enough to be seen from the shore.

I learned that the Island has been privately owned by the Robinson sheep farming family since the 1800′s. Less than 150 people live there. Hawaiian is still spoken as the primary language.

There is no telephone service, and automobiles are not allowed; horses and bicycles are the main form of transportation. Solar power provides all of the electricity. There are no hotels or general stores. Barges deliver groceries from Kauai.

The isolation is self-imposed, the Robinson’s enjoy caretaking this lost portion of Hawaiian culture.

The Island’s name is Ni’ihau and it is home to one of the forgotten events of World War Two.

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