Yesterday I visited the Bishop Museum and watched Wayfinders: Waves, Winds and Stars. I was completely blown away.
The ancient Polynesians explored the oceans in search of new lands navigating using only the stars, sun, moon, winds, ocean swells and sea birds. This was how the first Polynesians travelled thousands of miles to the Hawaiian islands.
This ancient way of navigation was almost lost in Hawaii until in 1976 when the Hōkūle‘a*, a replica of an ancient double-hulled voyaging canoe, set sail from Hawaii to Tahiti, relying only on ancient Polynesian navigation techniques.
Watching the documentary, I was awed at the ability of humans to figure out the night skies, using it as a navigational tool, and their intrepid spirit in setting sail for a land they may not find, thereby perishing in the process.
Gazing at the stars in the planetarium ceiling, I was struck by what a great metaphor for life wayfinding is.
In order to become a wayfinder, one needed to study and memorize a minimum of 200 stars, know where the sun and moon rose and set during the year, as well as understand the swells and currents of the ocean.
Wayfinding is hard work, for it is only in the darkness of night that one navigated best so one must stay awake through the night.
Mastery. Watchfulness. Courage. A developed sensitivity to the elements. All these are requisite for successful sea navigation without modern instrumentation, and for life itself.
If we acknowledge God as the Creator and Almighty, then only by working hard to establish and maintain an intimate relationship with Christ will we be able to understand what are the plans God has mapped out for each of us and thus to be able to follow our bliss.
We need to study our faith and ourselves in order to master our shortcomings; grow in virtue. We cannot afford to slacken. We must stay awake by praying unceasingly.
If we do all these things, then we are better able to know where we should be heading to the point where making the right decision becomes intuitive, and making the better choice becomes second nature.
A wayfinder has a healthy respect and love for the natural world and others. A wayfinder finds ways to connect people and places, shrinking worlds and celebrating differences. A wayfinder does not fear or despair in the dark but discerns meaning in the distant light and uses it to great advantage.
When I grow up I want to be a wayfinder.
* The Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia will leave Honolulu on May 17 on a worldwide voyage that will span four years. To follow the progress of the voyage, go to www.hokulea.com.
The ancient Polynesians explored the oceans in search of new lands navigating using only the stars, sun, moon, winds, ocean swells and sea birds. This was how the first Polynesians travelled thousands of miles to the Hawaiian islands.
This ancient way of navigation was almost lost in Hawaii until in 1976 when the Hōkūle‘a*, a replica of an ancient double-hulled voyaging canoe, set sail from Hawaii to Tahiti, relying only on ancient Polynesian navigation techniques.Watching the documentary, I was awed at the ability of humans to figure out the night skies, using it as a navigational tool, and their intrepid spirit in setting sail for a land they may not find, thereby perishing in the process.
Gazing at the stars in the planetarium ceiling, I was struck by what a great metaphor for life wayfinding is.
In order to become a wayfinder, one needed to study and memorize a minimum of 200 stars, know where the sun and moon rose and set during the year, as well as understand the swells and currents of the ocean.
Wayfinding is hard work, for it is only in the darkness of night that one navigated best so one must stay awake through the night.
Mastery. Watchfulness. Courage. A developed sensitivity to the elements. All these are requisite for successful sea navigation without modern instrumentation, and for life itself.
If we acknowledge God as the Creator and Almighty, then only by working hard to establish and maintain an intimate relationship with Christ will we be able to understand what are the plans God has mapped out for each of us and thus to be able to follow our bliss.
We need to study our faith and ourselves in order to master our shortcomings; grow in virtue. We cannot afford to slacken. We must stay awake by praying unceasingly.
If we do all these things, then we are better able to know where we should be heading to the point where making the right decision becomes intuitive, and making the better choice becomes second nature.
A wayfinder has a healthy respect and love for the natural world and others. A wayfinder finds ways to connect people and places, shrinking worlds and celebrating differences. A wayfinder does not fear or despair in the dark but discerns meaning in the distant light and uses it to great advantage.
When I grow up I want to be a wayfinder.
* The Hōkūle‘a and Hikianalia will leave Honolulu on May 17 on a worldwide voyage that will span four years. To follow the progress of the voyage, go to www.hokulea.com.
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