Today Dailin dropped  Omi, Zak,Teyauna and me to a little deserted beach. As we poked our head through the forest we saw an amazing sight. What lay before us was such a surprise. There were beautiful old thatched huts and many twisty paths lined with exotic flowers. Much of the property was overgrown. I left Omi on the beach and began to wander around the ruins. Each building was constructed in Polynesian style yet at one time you could tell it had been some kind of grand establishment. Many of the buildings were boarded up and a few had lost heir roofs. There was a huge reception area that looked vaguely familiar  with a giant shell chandelier still all intact. I peeked in a huge kitchen and it was still set up with tea cups and cooking appliances. I walked up one path and there were bungalows that had artistic designs and private pools in the backyard. The property was enchanting and the view over the multicoloured lagoon was breathtaking. There was a private  quay out to the lagoon that went with the property.

We played on the beach for awhile and I was  perplexed at what had happened to this once exquisite establishment. As Zak and Teyauna were splashing in the warm blue waters a man quietly came up to talk to me.  He asked in French what language i spoke and when I responded in French he explained that we were not allowed to be in this place. I asked him what it was and he told me that it was once the famous Hotel Bora Bora. It was the first hotel ever built on this island. I suddenly realized why it was so familiar. Six years ago when we visited this island we had been invited by the owners to view their five star resort. We had been welcomed with fresh leis and cool pineapple juice. They had treated us to lunch at the restaurant and had shown us the fanciest suites with hand carved wood panelling and intricately woven palm fronds roofs.

This humble security man was proud of the old place and quietly reminisced about it’s days of glory. He believed soon some one would come by and see it’s value and restore it to it’s former state. After  showing us around the property he then led us out to a public beach close by, reminding us that it was his duty to keep people off the property.

I thought a bit about the falling down buildings. It amazed me that only six years ago it had been a busy establishment full of beauty and purpose. I noticed that as each year passed away the property would seem less valuable to a perspective buyer. In the tropics things fall apart so quickly. The jungle quickly takes over any open space and the winds and the rain speed up the decaying process. Plants begin to grow inside the abandoned buildings and unwanted vines strangle out the carefully planted tropical flowers along the coral paths.

As I sat pondering on our new beach location I knew there are beautiful people who do not see their own greatness. We have a son on a mission and as I think over the letters he writes I am reminded of the heart ache in the world. I am also reminded that there is one who will always consider each garden worth rescuing. No matter the price tag attached there is one who sees the beauty in each soul.