NORTH SHORE SURF COMPETITION

NORTH SHORE SURF CHAMPIONSHIP

(that's me with the backpack of watercolor supplies)
watercolor painting and poignant poem by Rebecca Snow of Honolulu

NORTH SHORE COMPETITION

There is always a crowd

where the surf is being rode

I can't always get there

cause the highway gets all slowed

by all the lucky tourists

they are eager for a glance

at the  men in fancy wetsuits

who on the waves do dance

but I got up early Sunday

started off at early church

just to get a parking space

and find a beach front perch

and so I was quite early

there were camera men in place

and all the wanna-be'ers had jealous on their face

the surfers they were bobbing and floating

so serene

not a wave in sight , the surf was glassy clean

and slowly as the morning broke

the waves arrived on time

to start the competition 

and the scene , it all was mine.

the sun peeked like the shyest child and 

there was a distant storm,

then gray , then blue, then silver pink

then chilly , hot, then warm.

the changes of the surfer sky came at us rolling fast

the perfection of this ocean time we wished would ever last

then one paddled and he missed it,

one paddled and he stood

one paddled and another 

and everything was good.

and I was taken by the "still" that fell upon the crowd

the same as in our early church 

and many of us bowed

we bowed our knees on beach towels

we raised our voice as one

we marveled at the beauty

facing star struck at the sun

it wasn't meant as worship

we'd not arrived to praise

but it just so happened 

that all together we felt saved

We knew that God was present

We knew we were all blessed

the surfers got their trophies and I'm sure they did their best

but the winner was THE OCEAN

the runner up THE SKY

the competition stunned us 

as the whales breached passing by.

so I just want to mention

that if you are da kine

come on to the North Shore

and worship any time.