Written By: Mary Gordon Kerr| CSUS Board Member
Photo By: Ivy Scott 

We can’t always see the danger we are exposed to. This is especially true in surfing. Sometimes the ocean obscures dangers that are just below the surface. I was surfing a contest (a rare occurrence for me) a few years ago at Folly Beach, SC. Contest organizers and co-competitors had warned me to avoid the seawall-like barriers, called groins, that are built perpendicular to the beach to help prevent erosion. At high tide, these rock and concrete groins are hidden not far below the surface. They can be a hazard to surfers. The contest area was flanked on both sides by such groins at a surf break known as The Washout. 

I knew they were there, and I planned to avoid them, but during my heat, after jockeying for waves, and with precious time ticking away, I finally found myself on the face of a really nice right.  I began to focus on enjoying my ride, losing track of my position to the beach. As I pulled out of the wave and dropped back to my board, my foot struck a rock just below the surface of the sea. Thankfully, just a warning of how close I’d come to disaster, and a powerful prompt to paddle away from the rocks and back to the safety of deeper water. Protected in spite of myself (Psalm 3:3).

I thought about that story today when I read 1 Corinthians 10:13. We all face temptation, and sometimes it’s easy to flee, because it’s easy to see it for what it is. But other times, we get so caught up in “riding the wave” of whatever we are doing, we fail to notice where we are headed. Even when we have good intentions, we sometimes let ourselves get too close. Let’s specifically ask God for his help. To help us see sin as sin and flee, to help us recognize the deceitfulness of the enemy, to help us keep our eyes fixed on Him (Hebrews 12:2), and to provide a way out when we recognize we’re on the wrong path. He promises that He will. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Psalm 3:3

“But you are a shield around me, O Lord…”

Hebrews 12:2

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…”