Page 2 - MidWeek - Nov 30, 2022

2 MIDWEEK NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Sol’s Song Of Peace
“Let there be peace on arth ...”
played in a soccer tournament with Pelé at Aloha Stadium. Well, let me restate that. On April 7, 1976, I was fortunate enough to play in a tri-
world renewed with peace. His simplicity and gentleness had blessed me with a mes- sage more powerful than any assurances or comfort I ever provided him. What he gave to others was much more than a place to stay overnight, or a simple meal. He didn’t just listen to the song — he embodied its message: “Let there be peace on Earth ... and let it begin with me.”
The Rev. Danette Kong is a retired health care chaplain and ordained minister with the Hawai‘i Conference of the United Church of Christ. She is currently the pianist for Keawala‘i Congregational Church on Maui.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Robin Stephens Rohr and Lynne Johnson.
ple-header soccer event: the Aloha Soccer Festival. Our Hawai‘i all-star team (amateurs) was vanquished by the North American Soccer League’s San Diego Jaws, 6-0, followed by the Philippines’ 1-0 win over Taiwan. The final match of the day saw the incredible Pelé score four goals, as his NASL New York Cosmos beat Team Honda of Japan, 5-0.
As a child, Sol was mysti- fied by tattoos on the skin of some of his relatives formerly imprisoned in Nazi concen- tration camps. His family did not discuss these, so he did not learn of their significance until later in life. The conflicts he recognized between vari- ous religions troubled him, so he chose to live life without any formalized faith.
While playing Let There Be Peace on Earth on the ‘ukulele for Sol, the author realized Sol didn’t just listen to the song — he was the song.
The point of this story is not about soccer or the glory days of then new Aloha Stadium. It’s about word usage — how we must carefully select our words. Living in a sometimes post-truth world nowadays, far too many people say far too many things, then deny their words or suggest they were misquoted by a malevolent mainstream media or tricked by a manipu- lative editor in some backroom editing bay. Hogwash.
must find ways to share peace with each other.”
his favorite songs, I paused between them to recall stories he had shared. I reminded him of the hospitality he showered upon others, impacting many lives by offering food and a warm bed to those without shelter. I affirmed his peace- ful, welcoming presence to all. As I closed with Let There Be Peace on Earth, he drew his final breath. It was a holy moment.
Business adviser Mary Lynn Ziemer once said this about words: “They have the ability to carry us to far-off, amazing places. Unfortunately, our words can also lead us to places we wish we had never visited.”
When I offered to play songs for him on my ‘uku-
We closed each successive visit with that song. Serenity enveloped Sol’s countenance as he relaxed, breathing deep- ly and contentedly.
Sound bites, cellphone pickups, press conferences, campaign speeches. We’ve all heard ’em and seen ’em. And yet, we have verbiage deniers who insist we simply did not hear what they said — but we did. Or that they did not mean what they said, but they did. Or that someone must have edited their words, but they didn’t.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
Several weeks later, Sol had slipped into a coma. One afternoon, I quietly took a chair next to his bed. Singing
In the remaining stillness and calm, I thanked God for the beauty of Sol’s life. My heart echoed his desire for a
Call it what you like, but words matter. Yes, I played with Pelé in a soccer tournament. We both played, just not at the same time. The concept, as a whole, might hold up, even if the details suggest otherwise. We can all watch our words and not allow kinda sorta or outright lies define us or those we follow.
Think about it.
Sol was known in his community for open- ing his home to those
IWord Wise
in need of emergency shelter or food. Daily, he could be found in his neighborhood bar, regaling fellow customers with colorful stories, provid- ing hospitality and friendship to all who entered its doors. When illness took him by sur- prise, I met him as his hospital chaplain. A warm relationship ensued.
lele, Sol responded that he would love to hear anything about peace. “This world is filled with so much hate and destruction,” he sighed. “We
Strumming, I began to sing, “Let there be peace on earth.” Sol’s eyes lit up. He exclaimed, “I remember that song! My mother loved it, too!”
KELLEY
with the Rev. Danette Kong
Sure, people err. But invariably, we must be held accountable for not only what we do, but also for what we say, especially as it might affect others. Sadly, we tend to excuse those we adulate, like or vote for when they say something reprehensible, false or off-putting. We put on our moral, truth-canceling ear plugs and ignore reality because we just really don’t trust the other side, or because we don’t wanna hear when our guy blathers. Selective ethics, short-term memory recall dysfunction.
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com