Making time to commune with God in the midst of a frenzied daily schedule is a major challenge for Christians during the six weeks of Lent leading up to Easter — traditionally a period of penitence and self-examination.
Kamehameha Schools student chaplains Elisha Fronda and Makamae Nottage found their cellphones served different purposes during their Lenten journeys.
Fronda put his phone aside, and realized not having it helped him to cherish what was happening in the moment. Nottage used an app on her phone to spend peaceful moments with God in her busy day.
The two were among several keiki kahu, or junior chaplains, who took part in creating the school’s Hawaiian-focused devotional series, available for all to use via the I Mua Newsroom at ksbe.edu.
The series was developed by chaplains on the Kapalama, Maui and Hawaii island campuses, and administrative leaders also participated by giving their personal insights on various topics each week. The devotionals include Scriptures, prayers and hymns, incorporating some Hawaiian language.
“There have been great comments from people within the school and within the business side of Kamehameha as well as some Hawaiian churches,” Kapalama Chaplain Kordell Kekoa said.
Fronda said a trip last fall to Kalaupapa, Molokai — where a handful of Hansen’s disease patients still reside — made him realize how dependent he was on his cellphone. There wasn’t enough power available to keep his phone running, and “it was a struggle for the first day or so” not to be in constant contact with the online world, he said. He was there with several other students to do community service over five days.
“I noticed a lot of different things, like enjoying what was right in front of me, that I don’t think I would’ve been able to if I hadn’t put my phone down,” he said. Fronda was able to “study more in depth” and develop relationships with new people.
When he returned to Oahu, “I made a conscious effort to put (the phone) aside,” and the longest he’s been able to go without it has been two days, Fronda said. “I’ve honestly been tempted to go back to a flip phone (which doesn’t have smartphone capabilities), recognizing how much better it is when you don’t have the distraction.”
Fronda contributed to the devotional series by conveying his thoughts on the topic, “Ask, Seek and Knock” (Matthew 7:7-8).
“In this modern age, the simplest of things such as ‘knocking on the door’ are an afterthought and considered outdated; motion-censored doors, electronic passcodes, and electronic buttons are the norm. To reconnect with God, it will require us to reevaluate our obsession with modern technology and revamp our lifestyles … but the mental and spiritual benefits are life changing,” he wrote.
A senior, Fronda said that because he knows this is his last year before leaving for a mainland college, he’s trying to “be more grateful for living here in Hawaii” and “cherishing everything I have.”
Nottage addressed the devotional topic “Living a Worry-Free Life” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“As a senior in high school, my life is everything but worry-free. Almost every second of my day is occupied” by school, chores, homework and college scholarship applications, she wrote. She also volunteers at shelters to help homeless children or at the Ronald McDonald House for families of children who are in town for medical treatment.
“Of course it takes patience and it takes time to focus and realize that you don’t need to stress out,” Nottage said. “I’m a victim of that all the time. But there comes a point when I have to sit down and and I just need to pray. I open the Bible to a random page, close my eyes and point to a scripture, and somehow, that scripture always relates to what I’m going through.”
For the past three years, she has used the Bible Gateway study app on her phone to start off her day, and before she goes to bed. Participating in the Lenten devotional series was “so awesome because it helps me to insure my faith and not forget the reason for the season.”
“I feel like it helped me with courage; I’ve always been very shy. Now I know I have nothing to worry about. I have the courage to be kind and caring toward others,” Nottage said.
