god's greatest work
I believe it was Robert Louis Stevenson who called the people of the South Pacific islands “God’s greatest work”. Captain Cook called the islands of Tonga “the friendly isles” and if there is one place I would happily be castaway on, it would be Tonga, because dear reader, you can believe the hype. It’s all true. Sit in your car for more than three minutes doing nothing except look mildly perplexed, and someone will rap the window and ask if you need any help; don’t worry, be happy; nothing is too much trouble; just call me; give me your hand, I won’t let you fall…that’s my Tonga.
I could talk about these islands being everything you imagine when you think of a South Pacific idyll; about palm laden shores of crystalline blue waters and white sands; of vast clear skies; the smell of tropical blooms and coconut. But while these things make Tonga so appealing, they are not what make Tonga so valuable. Its people are its greatest treasure.
Maybe this comes with being a little beyond the pale when it comes to the global rat race. Maybe you have to forego the luxuries, the trappings, the money, the big businesses and all that comes with everyday life. None of that is there in Tonga and in some ways, Tongans will always be richer for those reasons alone. And I am richer for being given the gift of meeting God’s greatest work.