Surfing is not easy.

So I went surfing yesterday.  I squeezed into my wetsuit, which nine years ago was new and straight up boss.  Today that same wetsuit looks a bit old and is tearing in some seams.   It may have something to do with the fact that I am nine years older and have a gut, or perhaps it has something to do with the wetsuit being nine years older.  Either way, I got to go surfing yesterday and had a pretty good time.  The kids joined me at the shore as I came in and I have to admit I had a great time.  I may be out of shape but I was still able to catch a bunch of waves, do a back-side bottom turn and make a drop that others didn’t make. 

When I was out surfing I was thinking about how weird it is that I surf.  I’ll level with you.  I am a bit afraid of the ocean.  When I see a rock below me I freak out.  (Does that look like a shark to you?) When I drop in on a piddly wave of about 4 feet I am scared.  I’ve been surfing over 20 years and I still get nervous surfing.   I think this has to be one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.  I don’t have the talent to surf and yet I still do it.  Every time I drop in, it shows I can conquer my fears of the water.  My grit and determination make me a surfer. Each wave: a victory. 

As many of you know, we are a week away from planting city life church, here in San Diego.  I love planting a church for an entirely different reason.  There is no amount of hard work or dedication on my behalf that will make the church great.  No matter how hard I work it is God who will build His Church.  He will do great things in our midst and we cannot take the credit.  Scary, but I trust him a whole lot more than I trust myself.  So here we go people.   Let’s ride a wave and watch God do it all.