surf

there's a metaphor i've heard used to describe the world view i hold and it goes something like this... just as every drop of the ocean is wholly ocean, the ocean is wholly comprised of these drops.  (substitute each of us for each drop and the ocean for a universal spirit and you get the idea.) 

perhaps it's because i grew up at the ocean or perhaps it's my water sign dominance, but for whatever reason that depiction of spirit has always resonated with me strongly.  and because of that, or maybe owing to this, i find great comfort and renewal in water.  when things are uncertain or upended in my life, i am drawn to it and without exception it brings me back to clarity and alignment with my better side.  

i spent saturday on the lake with friends and while i was there, something caught my attention...and has remained there nagging at me and asking to be incorporated to my world view metaphor.  it was a water sport.  one i've never seen before.  granted, i've spent most of my water hours in the salted variety; but over the past (nearly) twenty years that i've lived in atlanta, i've gotten my lake water-wings too.  and in neither setting have i seen this particular skill in this particular way.  

the boat involved was moving quite slowly and, with an inboard motor, creating a deep wake behind it.  the young guy performing was, at first, holding a ski rope with one hand and standing on a surf board, off to the side of the boat.  the rope was loose, with plenty of slack and i was at first boggled by what was going on.  within seconds, he had dropped the rope and repositioned himself on the board, maintaining an easy balance.  

the boat was still moving peculiarly slowly, very close to the guy, but the casual body language of the board-rider made it clear that all was going according to plan.  next thing you know (and though i'm drawing out the story, this was all within a matter of a few seconds..) he was surfing.  

literally surfing the perpetual and steady wave created behind the boat.  i laughed when i realized how obvious it all was and watched in awe.  i'm not a surfer myself, so this is pure speculation, but i imagine the hardest part of surfing is waiting for the perfect wave.  spotting it, timing it, wiping your brow at the wrong second and missing it, waiting for it again.  

this guy, however, had found a way to capitalize on the inherent, perfect curl that follows a slow moving boat and ride it.  quite simply, ride it.  truly genius.  

while so many lake sportsmen (and sportswomen) are trying to find the smooth, glassy place between the wake's wave and remain steadily within it; this guy was relishing the leading edge of forward motion and riding it.   something i can easily bring into my ever-evolving metaphor of life.

d:  casual, easy balance in the curl

b:  i've caught the perfect wave

g:  a lesson learned and a spirit renewed