That was the standard greeting in Hawaii, usually followed by “brah” or “bruddah”. It’s a lot less formal than “how are you”? It also does not expect a deep or long answer. It is very light-hearted, usually answered with “all good, bruddah”.

Our Stephen Ministers have been going through Max Lucado’s book “You’ll Get Through This.” There is a chapter that touches on the seemingly innocent, non-threatening, conversation-starting question: “How are you?”   “Do you really want to know?”  Imagine how taken aback someone might be at that answer. So as not to offend, we will default to “fine, thanks”.  At any given time, most of us are struggling with things that we don’t think anyone wants to be bothered with. We suffer in silence because we don’t want to “bum anyone out”. What gets me as a pastor is when someone says words to the effect of “I just can’t handle church right now; I’m too depressed.” Why do we so easily, quickly forget that God is here for us, to heal our troubled souls; that worship is for those who are sick in spirit? In the chapter of Max’s book I referred to, he shares how his wife purposefully came to church one Sunday, armed and ready to answer the “howzzzit” question with, “not well. I’m depressed. Will you pray with me?” Yes, “we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise” (the preface to Eucharistic prayer). I am not saying that we should not be optimistic and hopeful. Quite the opposite! When life has us in the pit, we do not wallow. We reach for God’s sure, steady hand, holding the rope to pull us out of our self-pity – SO THAT we can receive the comfort, peace and hope that we find among our brothers and sisters in Christ. God can handle our anger. God can help us THROUGH our depression, not OVER it. Same goes for grief over any and every loss in life. Our awesome God did not spare even His own Son, in order that He too would experience the deepest depth of human pain. At the bottom of the pit we will find Jesus. Holy and hole-y, bearing the scars of infinite, unconditional love.

In Christ,
Pastor Art