Written By: Emily Benedetto | CS Maui Coordinator
When I grew up in San Clemente, there were no e-bikes to ride down to trestles to surf! So when my buddies and I wanted to longboard at Churches, unless we could convince a military friend to drive us on base, we had to walk. We would park at the first lot when you drive down the road at San Onofre, and trudge half a mile across the sand or through the military campground, to the iconic Churches. Carrying a longboard on one side for that long can become exhausting for your arm, so quite often we’d split the carry with our friends like this: one person would stand in front holding both noses of the boards on each side, and the other person would carry the tails the same way. That way, the weight of the board was split between both arms rather than just the one, kinda like a hot dog bun. It was SO much easier!!
It says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Partnering is always ideal. At Christian Surfers, one of our core values is “partner”, for this very reason. It’s much easier to find other people to help with our workload, whether they are a part of another non-profit, church, or someone simply willing to say yes. However, God is the ultimate partner.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Life with community is epic; life with God is even better. Jesus promises to lighten your heavy burdens, just like my friends and I would do with each other when we trekked with our long boards down to the churches. There was the occasional time when I did that walk alone, and it sucked. My hand would go numb from the width of my board, my shoulders would be burning, and by the time I made it to Churches, I was already a bit wiped. Lean on the Lord, let Him pick you up when you fall, let Him lift your burdens, and let Him come alongside you when you need to fight against what life is sending your way. And then find another friend to be there for you because a cord of three is not easily broken!