Enjoy the Surf

My friend Sam sent me an email that simply said, “Take a minute out of your day when you can to let yourself enjoy this one." There was a link to a video.

I just “enjoyed” it…

It's five minutes and forty-nine seconds long, which is an eternity for some of us. I endured and was jumped by God.

As it ended I was in tears wanting to live, wanting to overcome, wanting to rise above all the crap/wounds/obstacles/battles/lies/doubt/compromise that crowds my life. I want to be that guy!

Five, ten minutes later I hear God say, “You are that guy. Enjoy the surf!”

Enjoy the surf!

When you can, take a minute and let yourself enjoy this. As soon as you finish, take all it stirred up to God.

Let me know what you heard. – Craig McConnell

Here's the link to the video.

 

Comments

[David Leach]

That was beautiful! Here's what I heard. . .

There is nothing that can stand in the way of living fully from your heart - nothing can prevent the realization of your heart's desire - and nothing can take the place of realizing who you are destined to be.

Like you, I want to be THAT guy!

[Amy S.]

That was really really enjoyable!

Thanks so much for sharing that.. love this words at the end... powerful!

[David Felts]

Craig, I heard what I've been hearing since February, and that was "Risk". Take a risk, be who you are meant to be. Do what I've called you to do...take ground and never be timid again. Risk it all and the rewards will be immense.

[Mike Loomis]

I heard "Yes - I really AM that good... Enjoy the snow and the mountains".

(That's my version of the surf)

[Sam Main]

Craig
I heard
"Just trust me, I have so much for you"

[Craig McConnell]

David,
I want to say a hundred times over the words you heard, "There is nothing that can stand in the way of living from fully from your heart". Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! Thank you my friend. - Craig

[Craig McConnell]

Amy. Amy. Thank you. Thank you. - Craig

[Craig McConnell]

Mike,
Wow! May God continue to affirm all that true of you… I’ll see you in the surf my friend… in the surf! In the surf! - Craig McConnell

[Craig McConnell]

I just watched it again. I am in awe of the strength to push through, to live, to love, to conquer, to laugh, to hope, survive, to enjoy life... to pursue, inspire... to worship. - Craig

[Ryan]

What struck me was that if he had not "pushed through", he would never have gotten out into the surf and experienced all that was available. Sow and reap in time. I think so many times it is easy to just stay at home where it is "safe" and easy. It encourages me to believe that the glorious plans God has for us are available if we first risk and then persevere. Great stuff. Thanks!

[Craig McConnell]

Ryan,
Well said, "the glorious plans God has for us are available if we first risk and then persevere.'Let's risk! - Craig

[David Leach]

Thanks Craig!

[jill dyer]

To love so much that you twist knees to waist, knees to waist AND that you have been given what it takes to make it, not easy , but challenging in a way that makes your blood flow, your heart sing, and your soul stand up in your God-bestowed glory...whew. That is indeed beautiful.
Surf well, my friend.

[Rocco]

Did anyone read the comments below the video?
.
=============
"Sean Mullens plus 1 month ago
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the film.
.
The film was shot in one day. Michael has not seen the film yet...I'm waiting to screen it for him personally. He will see it this week.
.
I had discussed shooting the film with Michael for a few weeks and then one day he approached me and asked if I wanted to go film him getting into the water. I grabbed my camera and we shot everything in a few hours.
.
There is more interview footage of him detailing his initial accident and his return to the ocean/surfing that didn't make it into the final cut.
.
---> One interesting fact is that the place where we filmed him entering the water was the exact location he broke his neck and became disabled 30 years ago. He told me that time and time again he finds himself at that spot on earth without intention of being there...it is one of his favorite places to be."
=============
.
When I read that last night - God showed up. We walked through some deep 'long ago' places of my heart. I'm still weeping...

[Bryan]

Freedom! That is the word that keeps coming to mind...especially after reading the comments below the video. Freedom to be what God intends - in spite of wounds, set backs, trials, apparent dead end life situations, or whatever. Freedom.

[Bruce Johann]

Whew!! I had to marinate overnight on this. As I lay awake this morning listening to Jon Courson teaching from Romans 6 & 7 about legalism versus freedom in Christ, the words came. "Restoring Eden". God is!!! Not the physical Garden (yet), but the relationship we had with Him in Adam before the Fall. Whoa, huge! To again walk with God hand-in-hand in intimate friendship, not required to follow formula, precept, principle, or, even the Law! His better way-to walk with Him transformed in our heart's desires by His life in us. It's the "easy yoke" Jesus told us about. It's humbling to see just how deep, powerful and primal is our hunger for life. To see the lengths which one will go through for momentary transcendence, where dead legs don't matter. And the freedom available puts grateful and humble front and center to me. Restoring Eden...I can't wait for the full reality!!

[Craig McConnell]

Jill,
So very well said, "you have been given what it takes to make it, not easy , but challenging in a way that makes your blood flow, your heart sing, and your soul stand up in your God-bestowed glory...". We have given what it takes... - Craig

[Jeff Bridgforth]

Craig, thanks for sharing this. I can really relate at the end of the video when the guy is in the moment, when he is doing something that God has uniquely made him to do. I have experienced that in my life when I am in the water or in the surf getting to body surf. I love it. I don't get to do it very often but when I do, I love it.

I thought of my own circumstances right now. I am looking for a job. But not just a job. I am looking for a place where I can come alive and live out of my gifting. I chose to leave another job before having a new one to jump to. I believe that God was asking me to make this step of faith.

And as I enter into this search, it is really challenging. There are days I feel so frustrated. I feel so restless as I long to be working again and living out of who God made me to be. Such angst some days. So much warfare. I have experienced the warfare question that says “you don't have what it takes.” But I remember that it is a lie and I take it back to God.

As I reflected on that video, I see my current circumstance in the challenges and obstacles that Michael had to overcome. But hope springs forth in my heart. It is worth it! When I reach the destination, it will be worth it. It is worth all I have to go through to get to the place where God would have me to be.

In the meantime. I will continue to struggle. I will continue to fight. I will continue to pray. And I will remind myself that it is worth it.

[Craig McConnell]

Jeff,
Sounds like you're enjoying the "surf". - Craig

[Jennifer]

Over the weekend, I had coffee with a friend who is gradually losing the use of her legs to MS. God told her that she would be healed and this belief shines out of her even in the most frustrating moments. She is one of the few people on earth who can truly smile to brighten up a room even though she'd rather be dancing across it. I sent the video to her. I was speechless.

[Mark Wager]

Craig,

I had to watch this twice. The first time my focus was too technical (admiring camera angles, vignetting lenses, b&w contrasts, how's he driving?, nice truck, etc)... I was distracted, amazed even, but distracted none the less.

The second time through was... simpler... less complicated... less brain, more heart... the simple words soaking in... the struggle (a minor theme) overcome by the simple joy of the act (the major theme)... I hear the word "FREE" and it resonates in my heart... I hear the word Birthright and I'm caught offguard by what is obviously the generosity of God.... the beauty quieted me... stirred me... oh how I wanted to pause the video and linger there... The impact of it is only now growing as I stop to ponder what it means to me. For a moment I was jealous. And then, even as I respond to your invitation to write, God reminds me that I am enjoying this video because you, Craig shared your heart with me... and I now get to share my heart with you... and for me, this is the surf.

I wanted to love this clip... wanted to hear what you heard... wanted God. I love reading your blog. I look forward to it. And when you suggested I pause to watch a video, I wanted to love it. Isn't that a funny thing?... that we have this impact on each other... that in the act of reading a blog and watching a video that I could be stirred to WANT more than I have at this moment in time. I felt connected to you and now to this surfer and even God, somehow. The connection is a mystery to me, but I'm so glad to be connected to a God who connects me with the hearts and passions and thoughts and dreams and hopes and joys of so many others. (Even those I may never meet here on this earth.)

Your life make me think of a line from the book "Blue Like Jazz" comes to my mind... "Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself..." -Donald Miller

Thank you, Craig, for sharing your heart and all that that means. I'm so grateful for the life shared. May I too pass along my heart to others that they too might want more in this moment.

Yours very truly,
Mark

[Craig McConnell]

Mark,
It's true isn't it? We, by nature, want to share beauty with others, we want to tell stories, we want life. - Craig

[Monika Miko]

Good stuff Craig, I heard "Monika, don't cheat your heart. I (meaning God) don't. Go with what is truly in there. Fake nothing. It will disillusion you and cause you to be dull towards Me."

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this is the sport that I love, the waves, the beach, sea and sand, bikinis, tanned skin, the sun all together is great, living the surf.
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Thank you, Craig, for sharing your heart and all that that means. I'm so grateful for the life shared. May I too pass along my heart to others that they too might want more in this moment.

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