It Ain't Pretty

I've started surfing. I've always wanted to surf, it's been a goal of mine for a long time. I just recently got my own board, which I am totally excited about, now I don't have to feel like a jerk for borrowing other people's board. This board is a beautifully used WRV 6'7" tail very well repaired from being broken almost all the way through, and a bubble in the rail. Yes my friends it is useable and still very good to surf with. It's a thin little sucker width wise and kind of hard to balance on when sitting on it in the ocean but I am very quickly getting used to it.

I found this board in the Rodanthe Surf Shop, a very small surf shop right beside a gas station. I just went in there just to see if they had anything new since the last time I went in (like at least 3 years ago). Looking at the boards I see this one for $125, the cheapest board I have found. So the next day we went back to check it out, the owner of the store told us everything that was "wrong" with it. But you know what I saw? Promise. This previously owned board looked awesome to me, even though there are much better ones out there, and a lot more pretty, I was looking at my first surf board ever in life.

You must be thinking..ok Emilie get to the point. Well here it is sometimes beauty doesn't really have to be beautiful. I found this board without anticipating actually finding a board that I would take home after a night. It's discolored, previously damaged, yet very well repaired. It rides beautifully. It's easy to paddle out with and I feel safe with it. Looking at it, it doesn't look new, and if you look closely you can see the repair. So let me get spiritual for a minute. I picked this board yeah because it was cheap, but when I surfed it, when I really knew what it is capable of still, it's previous life didn't matter anymore. Isn't that how God see's us? We are damaged, disfigured little creatures, but if you look real close you can see the repair aka Jesus.

Everybody can tell us exactly whats wrong with us, why we should be wary of our own selves. Lowering our self value to oh say $125 just because we've been broken, yet our repair is amazing and priceless. God uses us because though we are messed up once people understand what Jesus is capable of once the Holy Spirit comes through us to minister, then people will see the smooth times that lie ahead once they understand the eternal reward of their second life. Like riding a wave, once you take that once busted up board out there and see what it's got then you can see it's long-term benefits for you. It's really a beautiful way to think about it if I do say so myself.

I'm sure God sees us as beautiful despite our brokenness, and how warped we are. The world takes it's toll, waves take their toll. But our repair stands eternal.

All to God.

Cheers to the end and a beginning

2009-2010 school year has officially ended, as I type right now I am sitting at my parents house. Car still has everything that was in my dorm room in it, I'm a little lazy. I sit here with excitement and contemplation in my heart. I feel the need to lean on God more than ever at this point and just let go.

I have about two weeks until I leave for this mission trip, I have a friend leaving for Africa tomorrow, and I know right about now she is freaking out, and if she is reading this then I want her to know that I love her SOOOO much and I'm praying for her. There is a lot that needs to be done in preparation for this summer, and I have two weeks to do it. Crazy.

Spending time with my family is pretty much what I want to do these few weeks home. I know for some people this trip wouldn't be a big deal but to me it is. I have never ridden an airplane, I've never been out of the country, I've never been out of the country to minister to people, I've never done this. It's a summer full of firsts and I'm excited for it, but really nervous at the same time.

So many people from school are going out of the country this summer and I am so excited to come back from my far away land to hear their stories from their far away lands. May God work this summer in us all this summer as we go out to minister to those who do not know Jesus.

All to God.