Surfing By An Island

Sunset Beach - North Shore Oahu

Picture a 7 year old in northern BC during winter sitting in the living room and watching slide after slide of his parents recent get away trip to Hawaii.  "Here is a palm tree, here is some coral, here is diamond head - it's really nice and oh the pineapple there is really good ..." 

What goes through his head?  "It's looks really cool there.  Will I ever see that myself?"

Now picture a 40 something watching surf documentaries from the North Shore of the island of Oahu - the birthplace of surfing, the mecca, the proving grounds for any surfer wanting to enter the upper echelon of the surfing pecking order.  

What goes through his head watching warm water surfers paddling out in board shorts and a rash guard?  No wetsuit, no booties, just sun screen and melting into the laid back surf culture?  "What would that be like?" 

Last week I was there.  A week of exploring the island of Oahu and surfing everyday.  We snorkeled, hiked, and played in the warm tropical fish filled water.  I think I sat in a beach chair once for 5 minutes just to catch my breath.  We staying away mostly from the overly crowed vacation destinations and went to the next look-out, the next beach, and the next road side eateries. 

About 4 months ago a friend and I started throwing the idea of a trip around.  He said he had air miles so we could fly pretty cheap.  I said I have a friend who lived in Oahu and we could probably stay at his place.  Situation = cheap trip.  Heartland Church council gave me vacation time and Patti was more than supportive.  Then the tickets were purchased.  And soon enough we were airborne and heading south over the pacific. 

The vacation pictures of my parents and the surf documentaries all came to real life.  There were many times when I was just standing somewhere in awe or in the water thinking is this really happening?  I didn't deserve such a trip.  I wondered aloud at a recent elders meeting what the trip would mean and if there was some purpose in me going so far away.  One elder responded with, "Have fun, enjoy yourself."

At times I was overwhelmed with the reality that I was there, in Oahu - the north shore and paddling out in the same waters over the same coral as some of the surfing legends.  It felt like lacing up the skates and playing a game of pickup in Rogers Arena, the home of the Vancouver Canucks.  Same ice surface where so much drama, passion has played out.  Same place as some of the worlds best talent have been.  Surfing in Oahu was like stepping into a historical stream that has influenced me for many years. 

I'm home now, back to reality and some of the mystique of the north shore has somewhat been drained for me.  I've been there, came, saw, and experienced.  All the build up is over, just pictures, memories and some dings from the coral reef are left. It's just a place with roads and water and people.  Nice place yes, but just a place. 

This morning I returned to the question of what is the purpose or meaning of the trip?  And yes I did have a lot of fun.  But as I thought of the build up I began to ask myself the question, what will it be like when our hope in this life is fully realized?  When we see our Saviour face to face?  This life is the build up for the time when there is no more suffering, no more tears and we are standing in awe of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.  That will be a time that we all long for when our dreams and desires of the Kingdom of God will be real.  We will be there.  We will experience it. 

Know what I find is cool? There is no return ticket then, no back to reality.  It will be the new reality.