Sunday, October 3, 2010

Surfing the Tide

Peter Cole circa 1968 - he keeps this picture in his wallet
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/views/petercole.htm
For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.
-Romans 8:19

Peter Cole says, "But actually, I don't think we're underestimating waves. I think we're overestimating them. Nowadays they call it face."

He is referring to how people try so hard to scientifically evaluate a wave that they try to measure it and they neglect the type of knowledge they actually need to ride it.

Christians do this all the time. I do it all the time. I try to think about things that, while important, are casting a huge scientific shadow on the things that will make the Christian life come alive to me. It is essential to question God and seek His understanding in life, but these questions can never be substituted for getting on a board and riding the actual wave. Cole says this quote about overestimation because a surfer who fancied himself a scientist actually died because, in part, he thought too hard and rode too soft.

I think that we need to live the characteristics of Jesus Christ (as seen in the four gospels and in the fruits of the Spirit) not just figure out what they are - but actually embody them and be motivated to call ourselves out when we do not live up to them. Today, I purposefully tried to think about them and how I could be more patient and joyful and loving and gentle...it was amazing how far an attempt to think about something can go.

We need to let Christ transform our hearts and minds from the inside out if we really want to learn why He is so important to human life.   We need to stand up on our board so that we can be swept away and fully energized simultaneously by the tide of true religion.

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