You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
— Jon Kabat-Zinn
Have you ever been to the beach and played in the ocean? I remember going to the ocean when I was younger and marveling at the fun. I always enjoyed going out and playing in the waves, but was occasionally surprised by the power they possessed.
When you aren’t used to dealing with the power of the ocean, it can take you by surprise. I remember learning that lesson at times when I wasn’t paying attention to the ocean and a wave would knock me off my feet and into the boiling surf.
Contrast this with the image of a surfer as they ride waves with speed and style. They don’t fight with the waves — they learn to use the power of the ocean to get them where they want to go.
We can do the same with the waves that we encounter in life. We can fight them and occasionally let them blindside us and pull our lives into chaos or we can learn to let the power available in our challenges and trials propel us forward to a bigger and better future. Are you going to be thrown into the boiling ocean of life or are you going to learn how to surf?
What are you doing today to let your challenges bring blessings into your life?