Written By: Teddy Weiland | CS St. Augustine
Photo By: Reed Burr | Media Coordinator
I find myself, as many of you do, in the lineup talking about board design and fins. In between waves, I’m learning more and more from my friends. I’m making more sense of this path I’m walking in surfing and refining my tools along the way. Which ultimately helps me become a better surfer because I’m continually learning what works together. I’m understanding what fins work better for what conditions and what boards they were made for in small waves or larger wave conditions.
This, if you think about it, never came from one person but a community of surfers, shapers and fin designers – a mix of people all helping to make riding a wave better.
Without that community, I wouldn’t understand as much as I do now.
And now, I’m giving what was given to me and passing on that information, helping others understand what boards and fins work together. I’m sure you have heard something like this sitting in the lineup…“Hey, try this fin out in that board when it gets bigger.” Or…”Hey, have you tried this board design out in small waves? It’s given me so much more speed!”
I can’t help but think how much this relates to fellowship together in Christ.
“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3 NLT)
Community enables us to build each other up and pass along the well-beaten paths that have been walked. When I’m in and surrounded by a community of believers, my walk with God strengthens — tools for my prayer life, leadership, faith, and ultimately, who God is and what my identity truly is in Christ.
“What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.” (Psalms 55:14 NLT)
Just like surfing, I believe we never really “get there.” It’s a lifelong journey of learning, becoming better and passing that on to others. And that we can only do being surrounded by others in community.