If in doubt, paddle out

I feel I need to preface these upcoming blog posts with a confession. I am not a surfer. I don’t even play one on TV. In fact, I’ve never even tried to surf. Not once. But I have been married to a surfer for the last 21 years, so that should count for something.

Without even knowing it, I have been deeply entrenched in surf culture for over two decades. When Scott and I dated, he used lots of funky words and phrases. He called people “kooks” and used the term “sketchy” a lot. Phrases like “That’s so bogus!”, “He got nailed!”, “What a poser.”, and “I’m so stoked.”, were part of his regular vocabulary. I always thought it was cute and funny (After all, “surfer” was on my Top 10 List of things I wanted in a boyfriend. How shallow was I?).  Little did I know he was actually speaking a decidedly unique cultural language.

So even though I may not have my own surfboard or wetsuit, my garage is full of them. And I have spent my fair share of time, sitting on the sand, watching the waves roll in.

If in doubt, paddle out.

Anytime a surfer is headed out to the water and meets another local that just finished his session, they always talk surf conditions. “Dude. How are the waves?” “Aw, man. It’s totally blown out.” Which in normal people talk means that it’s terrible.

So why bother going out, right?! Just pack it up and head back home. But that rarely happens. It’s not that surfers are glutton for punishment. It’s the exact opposite. You just never know what might happen out in the water. Conditions may change and you may get the ride of your life. If in doubt, paddle out.

A surfer may have the perfect board. Custom built just for him. He may have a top-of-the-line wetsuit and be in perfect physical shape. He may be at one of the most famous surf spots in the world. But there is one thing a surfer will never have control over. Waves. He cannot beg, borrow, or buy the perfect wave. He needs to paddle out and wait for the wave to come to him.

It’s a lot like starting a church. You can talk to the locals. Find the right location. Get the latest and greatest music and programs. Put up cool looking signs and posters. You can even surround yourself with other like-minded folks who are excited to start a church too. But you can’t force a church to grow anymore than you can create a wave.

One thing I admire about surfers is their patience. They spend a lot of time sitting on their boards, waiting for waves to come. And they don’t take the first wave that comes their way. They wait for the good ones.

I feel that’s exactly where we are at right now with starting a church here in Oceanside. We’ve found our spot. We’ve been talking to the locals. We are meeting people who are excited about the idea of starting a new church. But we are waiting. We are patiently waiting for God to bring us the right conditions to move us forward. And this is one of the most difficult places to be. The place where it appears like not much is happening.  Nothing is going on. We are just sitting on our boards. Praying. A lot.

But I’ve got a pretty good feeling that this is exactly where God wants us to be. Seeking Him. Trusting His direction. Because even though it looks not much is happening on the outside, God is moving mightily. In His time. In His way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Even though the conditions may be “totally blown out”. Take some surf advice: if in doubt, paddle out. Because you just never know when God is going to bring you that perfect wave.

Later dude!

The Church Surfer's Wife