This is a guest post from my dad Steve Bonenberger. Check out his website The Daily Bible Source.

Yesterday was one of the hottest days on record here in Carlsbad, CA. The mercury topped over the century marker in many places. Even on the coast which is usually cold & dreary, the sun shone brightly & the temperatures were red-lining in the mid-90's. The great part of the coast is of course the waves.

The waves yesterday were brilliant in form and texture. 3 to 5 footers. All with that distinct 'barrel roll' that the surfers love. No wash or wind that diffused the energy. And the surfers were out by the hundreds. You have not lived until you watch those men and women of all shapes and sizes in their wet suits, looking either like bloated wallruses or sleek and swift sea otters paddling away from shore and in the direction of the crashing waves. There was only one detering issue yesterday, it was high tide.

For those of us that are non-surfers, it is a sight to behold: Surfing @ High Tide. Watching the power of the waves crash and literaly break @ or very near the shoreline is a sensational sight to see and observe. Watching surfers navigate the power of the waves as they ride the crests knowing that the ankle deep water @ the shoreline is their stopping and breakpoint is astonishing to me. Every single time I see this, I still find it hard to imagine or believe what I am witnessing.

Watching the suited up and gliding on fiberglass walrusses and sleek seals headlong speed towards thre shoreline is breathtaking. Each of them knows the danger. Many of them tumble into the shallow and threatening waters. Others who are more nimble and gifted ride the wave of choice to the shoreline. All of them, those that get tossed and those who are skilled enough to complete their ride, rise out of the waters smiling...and...this is the astonishing part...turn their backs on the shoreline that either just battered them or welcomed them with soft sand...and head back into the ocean in search of the next perfect wave.

Surfing @ High Tide seems to be the metaphor for our day. I am more of the bloated walrus than the sleek seal these days. I cannot swim and although I wish I could do so, I cannot and do not surf. My mind is though that these days are much akin to surfing @ high tide. We are each staring @ the empowering wings of opportunity. Some of us will be dashed and tossed. Others are more skillful and capable and will ride with ease to safety. It seems to me that neither outcome is optimal or matters. What matters is that we take our boards, wax them up, zip up our wet suits and bound into the waters and away from the shore.

The pull of moon on tides has always afixed and transfixed men and women. For aeons upon aeaons tides have risen and tides have crested and tides have fallen. Safety will return. The tide right now is high. The swells are strong. The sun though is shining. May each of us find the courage on this day to seek out wisdom for how to navigate these waters of this day. May courage and wisdom bring success and sustainability to all.

Photo of Kyle & Dad on Tuesday September 28th

|