Long ago, before the advent of “surfing the World Wide Web,” when someone referred to “surfing,” you knew they meant water and waves. I grew up in the era of Beach Party movies, so when my dad surprised me with a graduation present to Hawaii, my mind instantly turned to surfing. After landing in Honolulu, I rushed to the beach to start my great adventure. Surfing looked easy in the movies so I just “knew” it would be easy in reality. WRONG!
An hour of instruction on the white sands of Waikiki Beach before I ever stepped foot in the water should have been warning enough. Lay flat on your stomach on top of the surfboard, balancing your entire body on a board the size of yourself, paddle with both arms about half mile out, turn your board around, wait for the right wave to crest, then propel yourself to a standing position in 1 second as you perfectly balance on top of the board to gracefully glide the crest to the shore. Sounds like a plan, but for me the plan failed miserably. I followed all the steps, but could never get to the point of standing/balancing/riding to the shore. I fell into the water not once, but three times.
After what seemed an eternity, I reached shore and collapsed into the soft, warm sand. As the waves tickled my feet, the calm rhythm soothed my spirit, warmed my tired body, and brought new vigor to a young girl who just “knew” she would be discovered as the next Gidget. Before long I got up to head down the beach to my next adventure.
Thinking back I see the analogy between waves crashing and life. Will there be storms and crashes in life? Most certainly! Will there be peace after the storms in life! Most assuredly! Do we have a Creator who will see us through all of it! Most blessedly!
Amen!
You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. Psalm 65:5-8
Tagged: Christmas, Texas weather
