As hard as it seems now to believe it, I haven't always been a surfer. There was a time in my life, a long time, when I didn't have surfing as an exercise program and source of joy.

In the past, I had tried a number of different exercise programs - jogging, calisthenics, isometrics. The closest I ever came to one that would stick was when I swam laps two or three times a week at the YMCA pool. Even that, however, fell by the wayside. After a two week Christmas vacation out of town, I just could not face getting back in the pool. Sadly, lap-swimming is mind-numbingly boring.

Then God, in His marvelous Lovingkindness, prompted my friend Cal to invite me bodyboarding. I no longer remember clearly now how long it took me to warm up to bodyboarding, but before long I was doing it every day on the way to work.

Now it no longer matters how long I've been away from the ocean - I simply can't wait to get back into the water! Surfing has a built-in motivation that gets me to exercise!

Thank You, Lord, for your marvelous Lovingkindness and attention to every detail of my life!