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The Warm Fire of Aloha

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double lightning

As I write this I am listening to the rumble of thunder. It begins as a low rolling drumbeat then rises to a crescendo of clattering cymbals ending in a brilliant flash of light that casts a blue glow across the room.  The light fades and the drops fall softly in a steady rhythm. The flash of light is the perfect way to end this day.

The white hot flash from so many miles away yet shining so brightly in my living room is much like you and me. Our light bursts forth as we share our passions, ideas and knowledge with others.  Sometimes our encounters are like the lightning, brief but powerful casting a glow far and wide.

In what I consider a timeless hallmark, Robert Hruzek writes: “I stared out the windows, searching for something, anything, that would tell me there was a world out there. My eyes began to strain, searching for a reference point. Then – in the distance below, I saw the most beautiful sight.

A light. One single light.” (Excerpt from  “A Light in the Darkness”)

Last year, Joanna Young shared that post with me when I needed to hear that someone, anyone was listening.  The words have not lost their impact these many months later.

The links we share, the stories we tell, the posts we write and yes even our tweets may cast their glow upon those we may never hear or see.

Rosa Say shared these words in an email:

“Me ke aloha pumehana e lokomaika’i  (Translation per Rosa:  when a warm fire of aloha begins to burn, one seeking to feed the spirit, for another’s generosity of good heart has caused us to awaken, feel, and better absorb. “

The beautiful Hawaiian words are an encouragement to not only share your light but the light of others. When you are moved, inspired or tickled pink by another pass it on. Generously spread the light of those around you and you are certain to be warmed by the glow.

I hope today you are warmed by the fire of aloha.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the post, the weather or anything that’s on your mind. It’s Friday after all. 🙂

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

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Comments

  1. Melissa, isn’t it a power packed word? I love the beauty of the language and how it conveys powerful sentiments and stories with very few words. I’m with you let’s spread aloha!

  2. Hi Karl, I love Rosa’s words too and the woman behind the words is pretty special. 🙂 Your love for blogging, and for people is not lost on us Karl – you are my favorite Work Happy guy! 🙂

  3. Ulla, I feel your warmth too, today and every day that I read your blog or see you on Twitter. I may have said it before but I am so thankful that I met you! Big hugs my friend!

  4. Annie, Aloha and welcome or as Robert would say Big tip of the hat to you! I’m so glad you found me. 😉 Thank you for the kind words and for adding your own light to the fire that is burning!

  6. Rosa, lol, I do trust you! I love that Hawaiian language and the talking story. I know that even your dance is a form of storytelling and having spent some time in Hawaii it is a place that bubbles over with the Aloha spirit. I wish English could convey as much in so few words. 🙂 Mahalo for the sharing Rosa, you are treasured. xo

  7. Friar, lol! Robert has pointed out how easy it is to get me to snort milk from my nose…and it’s true! But, I am surrounded by people who make me laugh and that is an awesome thing! So, wiping down my keyboard and thankful for the in store warranty. 🙂

  8. Joanna, our dear Rosa’s description of you as a spirit spiller is so appropriate. 🙂 You are such a light to us all. Thank you again for sharing Robert’s post with me, it is indeed one of my favorites and you are so right about that giant heart of his. Wonderful indeed!

    xo

  9. Brad, you hit on a very important thing to keep in mind, that light can be transmitted with the simplest of gestures, such as a smile, a pleasant greeting or even taking a moment to chat about the weather. 🙂

  10. Andrew, lol! Yes lightning is best appreciated from the comfort and safety of your living room. 🙂

  11. Robert your words warm my heart. There is definitely a poet hiding under that hat.:-)

  17. Made it here before my Friday was over, though some of you are sleeping or on Saturday already, and what a nice surprise to find this post.

    You’re right Friar, I suppose I could tell Karen about anything… very cool that she trusts me, huh? Twitter and its 140 characters is sort of like Hawaiian: When you have so little to work with you have to make it count and can get amazingly creative! Only 17 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, (and some would consider these 10 vowels to be only 5: a, e, i, o, u, ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) then h, k, l, m, n, p, w are all our consonants. So our words have kaona, hidden storied meaning to them, and a lot of liberty – a chant or phrase is assumed true, as it must go with the speaker’s personal story, and they would know! Thus ‘tis very true that the speaker can spin a pretty long story within them! Most of my own kaona is within the value of aloha as life’s spirit, for ua ola loko i ke aloha ~ Aloha provides life from within. As for kaona, there was indeed a story that went with that email Karen refers to!

    Have a good weekend everyone ~ Rosa

    Rosa Say´s last blog post..“I’d rather have been a poet.”

  18. Amazing, how those few words in Hawaiian manage to express so much. What an eloquent language.

    (Unless, of course, Rosa is pulling your leg. She could be telling you anything).

    Does anyone here speak Hawaiian, to verify the translation?

    Heh heh. 😉

    Never mind me…I’m just being silly. It’s Friday.

    Friar´s last blog post..Early Sketches

  19. Karen, thanks for sharing that post of Robert’s again. It’s one of the most beautiful, touching things I’ve ever read on the internet. I know he likes to kid on a bit… but I know there’s a big heart inside of him, and it’s that big heartedness, that spilling of the spirit, that you and others do (me too, I hope) that allows us to move, and connect.

    Isn’t it wonderful?

    Joanna Young´s last blog post..Writing Lessons from the Confident Writing Community

  20. Karen, fine thoughts for a Friday. Yes, we have to share our light. It is exciting and mysterious that we cannot know how our light will be received. A simple smile may hit someone like a lightning bolt, or it may soothe them like the warm rays of a rising sun.

    Brad Shorr´s last blog post..An Online Marketing Fairy Tale

  21. Karen,

    I’m not quite sure that I share your sentiments about a lightning bolt being the perfect way to end one’s day, especially in the situation where you are outside and the storm is nearby and closing.

    That said, I do get your point, and I feel that there are few things which we as individuals have to offer others which is more powerful than the simple offering of human care, attention and love.

    Andrew´s last blog post..Fighting Genocide through Funds Management

  22. What is so beautiful about this thought is the many, many ways in which our lights can shine. For some, it’s the brilliant flash of lightning; for others, the warm, yellow glow of a sun; still others may be glowing with the familiar dull red of an ember.

    Nevertheless, they glow – and are seen, and felt – by others around them.

    Does the flame know who warms their hands at its boundaries? Probably not. All it does is burn.

    Robert Hruzek´s last blog post..That’s a Mighty BIG ‘But’

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