Day 134 "Riding The Waves of Life"

Growing up, I loved to body surf the waves in the ocean. First, you would try hunt out a wave that would be big enough to ride. Secondly, you would start swimming towards the shore with the wave coming up behind you. Thirdly, if the wave picked you up, you could then maneuver you body left and right to increase your opportunity for staying with the wave longer. And finally, the wave would deposit you upon the shore. A boggieboard, also called a body board, consisting of a short, rectangular piece of hydrodynamic foam helped to facilitate the ride. Positioned beneath one's waist-chest area, the boogieboard helped to keep the body surfer closer to the top of the water enabling better maneuverability upon the wave. I have had my share of waves that passed me by, crash down on me, petered out before reaching me, and missed me all together. But all in all, , I managed to do okay for a Midwesterner from Illinois.

Over the years, I have come to look at life sometimes like the ocean with its own waves that reach us and somehow, one way or another, we must learn to navigate them if we don't want to be left behind, have a wave crash down on us, or have waves peter out before reaching us simply by standing around. Each wave, truly unique in their own right, only comes by us once as it heads onward toward the shore and then dissipates unto the shoreline. Moments of our lives are like these waves. They come and they go but they only pass by us once. Therefore, how do best prepare to experience them? And not just experience them, but thrive in them? The answer, like riding in the sweet spot of the wave, is to live out each moment with an attitude of love filtered through the lenses of eternity. You will find that when you are motivated by improving the lives of those around you, not simply trying to improve your own lot, that you will be set free from the anchor and tether to self that confines our thinking only to our own satisfaction. Truly, this is not what a God who is full of love desires for us to do with our lives. Consider Christ. The best example to follow is Jesus Christ, himself, who came with a purpose to die for our sins and to show us the love of the heavenly Father.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set

before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of

the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

"A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love

one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples. If you love one

another." John 13:34-35

Truly we are unique from one another like individual waves approaching the shoreline. Brief in our existence. But when we choose to stay in the moment, opportunities avail themselves to make an impact, not just for the moment or the day, but for all of eternity. Riding the waves of life continuously reminds us that our lives matter and when yielded under the authority of God, himself, our ordinary movements can become extraordinary in the hands of our creator. How do we ride the waves of life? By staying continuously aware of God's presence and his sufficiency.

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"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ

Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Are you ready to start riding the waves of life?

In his love, see you tomorrow....

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)