What Are We Doing Here? SURFING!

Growing up in Florida, I was regularly exposed to surfing. I kept it at arm's distance until age 17, when I was bitten hard by the surfing bug. What's the big deal about riding a board on a wave? My guess is the same thing that draws people to sailing, hang gliding, white water rafting and kayaking- the chance to interact with and be carried along by a force greater than yourself. See where this is headed?

If we are following Jesus, we are surfing- being moved and directed by a Power bigger than us. God leads, we follow. The currents of God flow and we hang on for the ride.

CALLING ALL THRILL SEEKERS
People of faith are often portrayed as boring, safe and sterile. While some may be all of those things, that doesn't mean a bland life is what God intended. The scriptures are filled with stories of people who rode the currents of God to adventures beyond their wildest dreams. Unfortunately, we don't hear enough about this kind of faith. Take John 3 for example. Jesus talks about our need for re-birth (think forgiveness and a fresh start). This is the gospel we've probably heard before. But what about the next verse? The one where Jesus compares the new life He offers to being carried along by the wind. Why don't we talk about that? Why focus on the start of the journey, but ignore the rest of the adventure? Maybe because we aren't sure we're up for all that surfing the currents of God will require of us.

SURFING TAKES PATIENCE
People who ride waves do lots of waiting. The ocean doesn't have an "on demand" feature. If you want to surf, you have to respond to what the sea is doing. All of the planning in the world won't make the waves come when you want them to. This is the same experience Jesus told His friends to expect with God. God was going to move, but they would have to wait for Him. Of course, Jesus' friends have lots of questions- When? Where? How? Jesus' response- none of your beeswax. God has this funny habit of keeping His plans to Himself. Which is probably a good thing, because when God tells us what is coming- we seldom believe Him anyway.

SURFING TAKES BALANCE
Waves aren't completely predictable. Folks who have spent a lifetime riding them still get surprised by their direction, duration and intensity. The movement of God can feel equally random. Back to Jesus' buddies. He tells them to wait for God to show up and move. To their credit, they do- and are completely floored at what happens next. God did something more adventurous and effective than this first band of Jesus' followers could have pulled off on their own. If we want to live life with God, then we need to accept the fact that He won't always move like we expect Him to. We simply do our best to adjust and hang on for a more exciting ride than we could have dreamt up.

SURFING IS A LIFESTYLE
Riding waves (or other kinds of currents) can get under your skin to the point where you order your life around them. Take Dale Webster for example. Here's a guy who surfed every day for almost 29 years or 10,407 consecutive days. Rain or shine, glassy or choppy, big or blown out- Dale made it a point to ride 3 waves every single day. What if we determined to do the same thing? What if we made it our quest to surf the currents of God's spirit each day- content to let Him take us wherever He would? That's a style we could build a life around.

REFLECT & DISCUSS:
Q: What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done in your life? What's the most adventurous experience you've ever had for/with God?

Q: How do you feel about Jesus' words in John 3:8? Why?

Q: When have you found yourself waiting on God to move? What happened? How did that experience affect you? Is there something you are waiting for God on right now?

Q: Can you think of a time when God moved in a way that you didn't plan or see coming? What happened?

Q: Which is harder for you- waiting for God to move- or riding along (and being out of control) when He does?

PRAY:

"God, I want to ride Your currents. Take me wherever you want me to go today."