It seems I am in a real dilemma here. For the last few years I have been telling every surfer I know how surfing leaves you empty and unfulfilled and searching for more. That it really only serves a temporary need, and it doesn’t deliver you from what you really need. That only God in the person of Jesus Christ can truly give you what you are looking for in the longings of your heart and mind. I still believe this, but that’s not the problem.

This is a bold claim to surfers living on the Island of Kauai, where daily life is lived around the sport of surfing. The ocean to Hawaiians is really inescapable. Your surrounded by it. Your whole life is lived in connection to it. Which is what I also experienced for the last ten years. A surfer from Florida thrust into the hawaiian lifestyle where I could literally gorge myself on the sport that was so much fun. It was also a job for me working as a photographer part time with some of the best in the surf industry. It’s easy to tell people that surfing is not what you really need as you are literally going surfing almost everyday.

This is where the dilemma begins.

It seems that this lesson is a season that God is taking me through to prove that point. The point that God is all we really need. Let me say that again. God is all we need. To be in communion with Him. That’s it. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things, He will take care of. That’s what He has promised.

Ok, back to the dilemma.

My wife and I after having our first son, (Gabriel) decided that God was in fact leading us to the mainland to be near family. He had confirmed it many times because I was very doubtful. It’s on the gulf coast of Florida. I don’t have to remind you of the swell forecast for the gulf do I? Bring a skimboard. Or shrink yourself down to the size of a G.I JOE. Don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome to be near family. To see my only son and his grandparents laugh together. To see Gabriel and his great grandma look into each others eye’s. It’s an amazing thing that God has been so gracious to me in this way.

But lately I have found myself grumbling in my heart towards God about this issue of surfing. I want it, I want it now, and I want it whenever I want it. Why God? Why did you tell me to come here knowing I would hate the fact that I can’t surf? Why? Wait didn’t I just say above that God was all I needed? That the relationship I have with Him is all I need for fulfillment? Surfing as fun as it is is not the problem. It’s me.

Surfing can be a distraction to a real issue that God is putting his finger on. God often times takes us through experiences that we don’t like. In fact the whole gospel message goes against our natural inclinations. T.V. preachers make it sound like when you give your life to Christ you will hit the lottery or something and get rich and have no problems. Jesus said that in this world you will have trouble.

And in this life there are going to be times where yes, God may take you through a season that doesn’t look good to you. But in our finite minds we complain and question the infinite master who sees it all. I need to trust and be reminded that God has a plan, and His plans are for good for His followers. Even if at the times of testing Satan tempts me to think otherwise.

For the record, thank you God for taking me to where it’s flat, so I can realize more fully that you are in fact all that I truly need. Please help me by your grace to live that out, that others may see and know, you.