Gym Etiquette

If you don't re-rack your weights after lifting, you probably don't open doors for the elderly either. 

A Simple Weight Loss Hack

We all know people who are overweight and have expressed a desire to begin a weight loss program. If you're in that category, please remember: You have to do it when it's the right time for you. Don't let your doctor, your parents, your spouse, your kids, or your friends pressure you into doing it. You have to do it, as I said, when it's right for you. You are going to begin a relentless battle with the bad habits you've had for years. You have to be prepared for that battle. Nothing matters until you get to the point where you say to yourself, "This is going to end up very badly unless I get a handle on my weight. I can't postpone it any longer." 

External pressure to lose weight won't cut it. It's going to take a strong intrinsic desire for you to succeed. 

Meet Noah

Wow, what a night! My daughter and her family just moved back to the Richmond area after living in Kentucky for the past two years. We met up in Farmville this evening for some Mexican grub and so that I could meet my newest grandchild in person for the first time. 

Noah just turned one. He has already completely captured my heart. 

Love you oodles and oodles, Mr. Noah!

3 Weeks from Yesterday

Hey folks. Lord willing, in exactly three weeks from yesterday I'll rope myself to a mountain guide and attempt an ascent of the Riffelhorn. I an uber-excited. Am I up to the task? After all, it's been 9 long years since I last climbed the Alps. Have I trained hard enough? I believe I have. At any rate, I'm throwing down the gauntlet. That heavy breathing at high elevation you'll be hearing? Mine. Those footsteps on the rocks? Mine. I know I'm in for the challenge of my life. And I can't wait. 

Steve Prefontaine was widely considered to be one of the greatest runners of all time. He is quoted as saying, "To give less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." I couldn't agree more. Friend, if we face the obstacles of life, overcome our fears, and push our limitations, we can emerge victorious. For each of us, our last best day is lying in wait out there somewhere. 

Today's workout: 

Bodysurfing One of Oahu's Most Extreme Waves (Sandy Beach)

One of the most well-known (and dangerous) beaches in Hawaii is Sandy Beach (also called Sandys) on Oahu. 

When I was there last week, the waves were firing. One must be aware of all conditions when a deep water swell folds over a shallow bottom. Quick reflexes and good situational awareness are the keys to having a good (and safe) time. There are usually few willing bodysurfers in the water, mostly locals, which makes it feel more risky. Waves like this are so dangerous that you usually end up with maybe one or two insane rides at the most. I know I passed on maybe 99 percent of the waves I encountered at Sandy's on this trip. I was just too scared to catch them.

Anyway, it was good to get back to the beach where I spent a lot of time when I was a teennager. 

Your Daily Steps: Every Little Bit Counts

Well, it's after 5:00 pm and I've finished my activities for the day, so shall we check in on my miles for Wednesday, July 16? 

Now, it was too hot to walk much outside today, so I used the treadmill at the Y for most of these steps. I walked 7 miles, which added up 14,000 steps. So where did the other 2,600 or so steps come from? They come your daily activities. In my case, this included grocery shopping. Parking at the far end of the Food Lion parking lot got me probably another 800 steps. The rest I can chalk up to "miscellaneous." 

Remember: Every little bit counts. 

Don't Miss This in James 2:14!

There are two things about James 2:14 that every Christian needs to know. They are the words marked below in yellow. 

Let's start with the second one. In Greek, this is called the "article." This word is usually rendered "the" in English, but often it has another meaning. Here in James 2:14, most Bible interpreters believe we have a case of the "article of previous reference." Hence James isn't merely saying "can faith save him?", as we find in the KJV. The Greek reads, literally, "Can the faith save him?", with the article "the" pointing back to the faith just mentioned -- that is, works-less faith. This point is wonderfully brought out in versions like the CSB ("can such faith save him?") and God's Word ("can this kind of faith save him?"). 

So far, so good. But notice the other word I've marked in yellow. When an author uses this word in a Greek question, that question implies the answer "no." In other words, James isn't really asking a question at all. He's making a statement couched in the form of a question. Hence the rendering of the ISV: "this kind of faith can't save him, can it?" The answer, of course, is "Absolutely not!" For James, faith without works is dead. "So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless" (James 2:17, NLT). Faith, for James, is an action word. It's dead unless it's accompanied by activity. Anyone can say they believe. But how many are willing, for example, to love others actively and practically? That's James' point.

By the way, this point is also made by the apostle Paul. He would have agreed 100 percent with James that true faith is much more than mental assent or verbal agreement. It involves action. "The only thing that matters," wrote Paul, "is faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6).

To sum up. The crowning step of biblical interpretation is application. It's also my favorite part of Bible study. But before we can ask, "How do these words apply to my life?" we have to ask "What did these words mean to the original audience?" Hence we always precede application with both observation and interpretation. All three steps are vitally important! 

Have a great day! 

Why We Run

I can't believe it's been exactly one week since I ran at Ala Moana Beach Park. 

It seems like an eternity ago. Running while on Oahu reminded me of what it means to be a runner. It's not about running fast (I don't). It's not about running slow (I do). It's not primarily for competition, for therapy, or for play. We run, not because we want to, but because we have to. It's become innate. We know of no other way to live. 

I'm not a particularly gifted athlete. But I am tenacious. And in running, that can take you a long way.

Is "Goldfinger" in the New Testament? Well, Kinda

As I was reading James 2 this morning, I actually saw the word "goldfinger" there. Or, more precisely, "goldfingered." That's the word James literally uses in verse 2 to describe the rich man in his story about showing partiality, a sin that James condemns as a particularly heinous offense. The man James is describing was probably bedecked with a number of rings, not just one. One commentator says that his hands were "conspicuously loaded with them." History tells us that wealthy Romans sometimes wore as many as 6 rings -- on each finger! This point is missed in most English translations. They refer to someone "wearing a gold ring" (e.g., NIV, ESV). Luther has "mit einem goldenen Ringe" ("with one gold ring"), but other German translations have the plural instead: "mit goldenen Ringen" (HOF, NGU, SCH) -- "with gold rings."  Here's my attempt at an English translation:

"Suppose someone comes into your meeting with his fingers laden with gold rings and wearing fine clothes ...." 

Of course, James is much more concerned that we take his teaching about partiality seriously than argue about how to translate this or that word in the text. The sin of partiality so easily raises its ugly head today, even in Christian circles. We are so easily enamored with fame, with celebrity, with power, with wealth, with beauty. I recall attending one of my first Society of Biblical Literature meetings when I was just a fledgling teacher. As I walked through the convention hall, I caught a glimpse of one of my heroes, a man who was one of the most well-known New Testament scholars of that day. Somehow I mustered up the courage to go up to him and introduce myself. As we chatted, all of a sudden I was looking at the back of his head. One of his scholarly peers had just walked up to him, so he turned and began speaking with his friend while yours truly was immediately forgotten. I've never forgotten that experience. I promised myself that I would never be guilt of doing that with the people I met and spoke with, but I'm sure it's happened. If I ever treated you like that, I am so sorry. Please forgive me. Surely life is bigger than one's status or degrees. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could rid ourselves of the sin of partiality? 

This isn't a particularly cosmic thought, I know. But this morning I experienced a small reminder that treating others impartially makes a difference. By refusing to show partiality, we demonstrate our love for others in very plain, ordinary ways. But that's what being a Christian is all about. It's about taking the time and making the effort to make others believe and feel that they are valued and important. And at the end of your life you can say you've lived well if you've been kind and generous with those "little, nameless, unremembered people" (Wordsworth). 

I Salute You

If you read your Bible for one hour today, I salute you.

If you read your Bible for 5 minutes today, I salute you.

If you read your New Testament in Greek today, I salute you.

If you read your New Testament in English today, I salute you.

If you read one chapter in your Bible today, I salute you.

If you read one verse in your Bible today, I salute you. 

Many people just talk about reading the Bible. 

You're trying. 

I salute you. 

Why Climb?

If you read this blog regularly, you know how passionate I've become about mountaineering. My family members think I'm a bit crazy but they fully support me. I think it's hard for non-mountaineers to understand why we climb. Climbing is not about the mountain at all. And it's certainly not about "conquering" a mountain. The mountain could care less if you climbed it or not. It's me against myself, as always. Doing something hard for myself is the entire point. It's the need to do something that you feel stretches you. Why do people run a marathon? Why do they pursue a challenging doctor's degree? Why do they try to learn Für Elise on the piano? Because it feels good to try to get good at something. Mountaineering is just one way of doing that. The journey is better than the destination. And when the destination is also great, it's an amazing experience. 

The first time I left Hawaii for the mainland and saw mountains, genuine snow-capped mountains, I think I fell in love. I was overwhelmed by their beauty. Today the mountains still draw me. What I seek is beyond adventure. The mountains are where I commune with my Creator.

Two Daily Habits That Helped Me Lose Significant Weight

I am currently at about 13-14 percent body fat. I'd like to get that down to 10-12. We'll see. Remember, that's down from 35 percent body fat. This morning I weighed 201 pounds. My weight continues to drop ever so gradually, even though I'm not trying to lose a lot of weight. My goals are to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep at night. If the Lord blesses me with more fat loss, that's great. If not, I'm not going to stress out over it. 

Here are 2 things that have helped me make consistent progress during my fat loss journey. Maybe they can help you as well. 

1. I eat basically the same thing every day. 

2. I eat at more or less the same time every day. 

My daily breakfast consists of a plain Bojangles sausage biscuit (no mayo or jelly) and two cups of their delicious coffee. Good source of carbs and protein to get my day started. I have this around 7:00 each morning.

Around 2:00 pm (after exercising and farm chores) I have my big meal of the day. Every day my meals are tasty and nutritious. Here's a sampling of home cooked meals I've enjoyed the past couple of days:

Roast beef.

Chicken tikka masala.

Southern style baked shrimp. 

I hardly ever stray from this routine, usually only when I'm eating out with family (which I love to do!) or when I'm traveling and having to eat on airplanes (which I do not love to do). I eat for purpose as much as for pleasure. Two meals a day works for me, but it's definitely not for everybody. I rarely snack, but when I do it's almost always on nuts or on fruits such as melon, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, or pineapple. The main thing is to maintain about a daily 500-calorie deficit. I also drink about a gallon of water every day.

I realize that this way of eating doesn't seem very "normal." But getting lean requires an understanding of eating behavior and especially how to manage certain foods that are designed to make us overeat. In fact, I'd say that what is considered "normal" in today's eating environment is what has led us to have more than 70 percent of Americans be overweight or obese. This is a solvable problem, not because your cravings go away completely, but because you understand them, accept them for what they are, and have a strategy for dealing with them. To get results you have to eat consciously and deliberately. That's how you get lean and stay lean without starving yourself.

At the end of the day, weight management is all about structure and consistency. If you want to be lean and healthy, then you have no choice but to be picky about what you eat, and perhaps even when.  

Today's progress pic. 

When We Differ

A simple life hack: Unfollow any expert who uses his knowledge and intelligence to claim that his solution to an exegetical problem is the only right solution. Having your convictions isn't the same as tearing others down. 

What Makes Us Frail

Frailty -- defined as when we lose our independence and our health -- comes not from wearing out our bodies and minds. It comes from the opposite: the lack of use. The body is like a grandfather clock. If you don't wind it up every day, it will stop working. 

Self-Feeders on God's Word

Our churches need pastors who will feed the flock with a healthy diet. But our churches also need pastors who will teach the people how to study the word of God for themselves. True maturity in Christ is not possible unless and until we take responsibility to become self-feeders. 

Did Both the KJV and the NIV Miss Something Important?

In my morning Bible time I was in James 1 and noticed something odd. In James 1:13, James is dealing with the subject of temptation. The verse emphasizes personal responsibility when we face temptation. God can never be charged as the author of temptation. The sinner therefore never has the right to transfer the guilt from himself to God. 

Now, this is largely true because (so the Greek):

Please notice the word circled in red. It seems to have been overlooked in both the NIV (an "idiomatic" translation) and the KJV (a more "literal" translation if you will):

NIV: "nor does he tempt anyone"

KJV: "neither tempteth he any man"

In my opinion, these are unhappy translations. There seems to be no reason to leave that word in red untranslated. Look at these versions:

CSB: "and he himself doesn't tempt anyone"

ESV: "and he himself tempts no one"

GNT: "And he himself tempts no one"

NASB: "and He Himself does not tempt anyone"

Again, not saying the NIV or the KJV is wrong here. It just struck me as odd. I'm not against either translation. In fact, I love the KJV. It was my first Bible. I agree 100 percent with John Miles that we should read and use it. 

Nor am I against using the NIV in our Bible study. I'm guessing you have your favored English Bible translation, and that's fine. But it might behoove us to use as many versions as we can. The discussion I hear is usually "Use this translation but not that one." And most people tend to fall either on the "I prefer idiomatic translations" or "I prefer literal translations." I can see those points. But personally, I wouldn't worry too much about that. However, if you do prefer one version over the other, it's probably still a good idea to consult other versions in your study. It can help you fine tune your research.

Just a thought!  

When You Read Your Bible, Be Sure to Set Out the Welcome Mat!

In James 1:21, James says we are to humbly receive the the word God has planted in us. I love that word "receive." It could also be rendered "welcome" (as in the ISV). For 49 years now, I've had this sign (or one just like it) on my office door. 

The message I want to convey to my students is that they are always welcome in my office. That's why my office door is never closed. It's always open unless I'm in a meeting with someone. Students are not an interruption or an inconvenience to me. They never have been. They are the reason I'm here. 

Now let's shift the setting to your daily Bible study. Think of it this way. Every time you open your Bible, you are placing a welcome mat before your heart. 

That word for "welcome" in Greek is dripping with hospitality. It's saying, "Come on in. Don't bother to knock. I invite you to look over any sin or shortcoming in my life that you see." You're saying to the Lord, "Lord, I welcome you to come into my life in any area you wish to address. I invite you to do so. I am here in your presence as an open book." 

Friend, I want to suggest that you change your habits when reading the Bible. Decide today that for the rest of your life, each time you open God's word you're not just going to go through the motions of reading the Bible. No. It's going to make a difference in the way you think, how you react, how you treat other people. The truth is now going to penetrate because you're now dissatisfied with the separation between you and what you know to be right. 

If you do this, God will very graciously begin to lead you and change you in ways you could have never imagined. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Each New Day in Hawaii

Each new day on Oahu saw me getting in a run at Kailua Beach. 

Without reservation I will say that this was one of the best experiences of my holiday in Hawaii. Yes, I love races, where hundreds or even thousands of runners gather at a single spot to celebrate their sport and each other. Just today I got a text message from a friend from Wake Forest who ran the London 10K this morning. His text read, in part, "Had a blast! Lots of people." It's at races like this that each of us becomes all of us. But sometimes I prefer the peace and solitude of the lonely jog to the bustle of modern life, lost in thought, carried forward by the unattainable grace of fluid movement. 

Such was the case every morning in the islands. For me, at times running is a solitary sport. But races are times to find the connectedness I need with those who share my hopes and dreams. Best of both worlds, I guess you could say. 

On Greatness and Teamwork

Some of you may recall that I played the trumpet from 5th grade through 12th. Being at my high school last week reminded me of our band director, Gabriel Baltazar. 

The Kailua High School band room. 

Mr. Baltazar played in the Honolulu Symphony and taught trumpet privately. Although he was a professionally trained musician, his real love was directing. His strength was in taking a bunch of ragtag young musicians and forming them into one of the finest bands on Oahu at the time. His rehearsals were more like gym workouts than musical events. We students never felt we were there to please and amuse ourselves. We did our best all day, every day. We showed up ready to give our director whatever he asked of us. 

It was in that practice room that I learned one of life's most important lessons. I learned that to be a part of something great is better than being considered great. As a band member, you never just thought about yourself. You wanted to do your best as a way of honoring the efforts of those all around you. 

That's a lot like what the Lord designed the church to be like, don't you think? 

Aging Is a Blessing

In many ways, aging is a blessing. You see every day as a gift from God. Each day becomes precious beyond words. I think I'm better served by being aware of life's fragility than going back to my 40s, 50s, or 60s. I, still unworthy, have become completely dependent on my Creator. Living has now become a matter of enjoying each moment he grants you. 

To have a death worth dying you must have lived a life worth living. 

My View Every Morning

It never got boring when I grew up there. It never gets tiring today. "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." 

Languages Are So Cool!

Here's a sign I saw in Waimānalo the other day -- the bay just south of Kailua. 

Here's a more or less literal translation of the words in all caps:

• Ke = The
• Kula = (I'll come back to this)
• Nui = Big
• O = Of
• Waimānalo = Waimānalo 

Care to guess what the word "Kula" means? If you guessed "School" you guessed right! Kula is not even a native Hawaiian word. It's a loan word from the English "school." Here's what's happening:

Hawaiian only contains the following vowels: h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the 'okina, which is a glottal stop (as in "Oh-oh"). In addition, every syllable in Hawaiian must end in a vowel. So when we take "school," here's the result:

• The initial "s" is dropped.
• We're left with the sound "kul."
• Finally we add an "a" on the end of the word in keeping with the rule about syllable endings.

Thus we end up with kula. The sign pictured above means, of course,

Waimānalo High School

In Latin, the word for "school" is schola. This comes from the Greek word scholē, which means something like "spare time, leisure, rest, that in which leisure is employed (as in learning)." Care to compare this with other Indo-European languages?

• eskola (Basque)
• escola (Catelan)
• skole (Danish)
• school (Dutch)
• escola (Galician)
• Schule (German)
• scuola (Italian)
• skole (Norwegian)
• escola (Portugues)
• escuela (Spanish)
• skola (Swedish)

Other loanwords in Hawaiian from English include:

• elepani (elephant)
• enemi (enemy)
• hapa (half)
• hē (hay)
• kala (collar)
• kehena (Gehenna)
• kope (coffee)
• liona (lion)
• paina (pine)
• pepa (pepper)
• puke (book)
• waina (wine)

Languages are so cool! 😉

A Simple Weight Loss Hack

Exercising isn't really the hard part. Nutrition is. Exercising only requires you to be on your game for an hour or two a day. Eating right requires that you're self-disciplined for the other 22-23 hours. Many parents always talk about how they would die for their kids. But not how they want to LIVE for their kids. 

Make your goals stronger than your cravings! 

Did I Do Any Running While I Was in Hawaii?

Are there cows in Texas? 

A week ago today I did a 10K race in my hometown. 

It began at my former high school and then took us through the Enchanted Lake neighborhood of Kailua. 

As you can see, it was for a very good cause. 

In addition, one morning I decided to get in a run in Honolulu before heading to the beach. 

The 3-mile loop takes you around Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island. 

I loved this course so much I ran it twice. Ain't Diamond Head purdy? 

As I ran I remembered: Every day I get to run is not an entitlement. It's a gift. Each day that I get to spend as a part of the wonderful running community is a day I can treasure. 

And I do. 

My Swiss Accomodations

Lord willing -- and I really mean that, it's all in the Lord's hands, not mine -- in exactly 3 weeks from today I plan to fly to Geneva to begin my 2025 Alps adventure. Believe it or not, I can fly directly from Raleigh to Frankfurt, and then it's just a short hop over to Geneva. From there I'll take the train to Zermatt, my home base for the next 8 days of running, hiking, and climbing. I'll be staying at this lovely hotel near the train station (bahnhof). It's called (for obvious reasons) the Hotel Bahnhof. 

I stayed here when I climbed the Breithorn, Oberrothorn, Matterhorn, and Mammut Klettersteig (Via Ferrata) 9 years ago. On my way home I've got an early Saturday flight out of Geneva so I'll get an Airbnb there on Friday afternoon. 

It's called the Chambre au Pâquis à côté du lac." The "lac," of course, is Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). It will be so much fun to speak two of my favorite languages again on this trip -- German and French. 

Do you think I ought to visit this unique monument again while I'm in Geneva?

What I Ate on Oahu

I left for the islands weighing 202 pounds. By the grace of God, I weighed 202 on the scale this morning. I chalk this up to being so active PLUS eating two and only two (hefty) meals each day. Yes, I had the exact same things to eat during my entire stay in Hawaii, with no snacking in between. 

Breakfast was a no-brainer. The Kailua Zippy's has the best and least expensive breakfast you will find on Oahu. 

Two eggs over medium. Bacon crispy. Two scoop rice. And the coffee? Oh my -- so ono! That meal provided all the carbs and protein I would need for hours upon hours of surfing that day. Then later I would have my second meal of the day, and this too was the same thing daily. It's called Kalbi and it's my favorite Korean dish of all time. I learned to love it during my 6 trips to South Korea to teach. In fact, I kid you not when I say that Korean food is my favorite cuisine in the world. Primarily because of its great taste. But also because it's super healthy. In fact, it took me several trips to Korea before I saw my first overweight person, young or old. Korean food is big on fresh vegetables, fermented foods like kimchi, and healthy cooking techniques. The Korean diet is low in processed foods and high in fiber. Korean dishes are often prepared through low-fat cooking methods such as steaming and have a very high vegetable content. Korean cuisine also provides ample supplies of vitamins and minerals while limiting unhealthy saturated fats. 

As soon as I arrive in Hawaii I start craving the amazing flavors and mouth-watering aromas of Korean food. Korean dining is especially healthy if you are on a high protein diet like I am. It includes a variety of protein sources such as beef, chicken, tofu, and seafood. And then there are the spices. Garlic, ginger, even red pepper flakes are used generously in Korean dishes and have antiinflammatory properties. Oh, and have I mentioned how it limits the use of sugar in cooking?

My favorite Korean dish in Hawaii, as I said, was a plate of sizzling hot Kalbi. 

Note the presence of "banchan" or side dishes that are always served with the main meal and provide additional nutrients and flavors to the meal. 

If only I knew how to cook Korean I would cook it every day at home! 

Do You Gym?

Back to the Y today to do some gymming. 

Yes, "gym" is a verb now. Didn't know that? 

• I gym. 
• You gym. 
• He gyms. 

Or in German:

• Ich gym.
• Du gymmst.
• Er gymmt. 
• Ich werde gym.
• Ich habe gegymmt. 

This also works in Spanish:

• Yo gimnasio. 
• Tu gimnasias.
• Él/Ella gimnasia. 
• Yo gymnasiaré.
• He gymnasiado. 

I really missed being able to gym while I was in the islands. 

So glad I gymmed again!  

Do you gym? 

Surfing (and Bodyboarding) at Waikiki

I went to Kailua Beach every morning during my Hawaiian holiday. After all, my beach cottage was only a stone's throw away. But I spent as much time at Waikiki as I did anywhere else on the island. (I never did surf Diamond Head. The waves were blown out while I was there.) Here I am walking to Queens along Kalakaua Ave. 

You can view about a gazillion videos on YouTube of people walking along this famous sidewalk. I especially enjoyed watching all the tourists and the families with small children as they romped on the sand and enjoyed the placid waters of Waikiki. Because I park in the Honolulu Zoo parking lot, it takes me only a few minutes to get to where I'm headed. 

The waves at Queens weren't huge while I was there but they were certainly rideable, and you even saw a set or two of larger waves. 

Now, just as much fun as surfing at Queens is bodyboarding at the Waikiki Wall (also called Walls). Surfboards are strictly prohibited here. 

All you need is a boogie board and a pair of fins. 

It's a great spot and it typically has pretty mellow regulars as long as you maintain basic etiquette and say hi. Walls is not the same as anything you've ridden on the mainland (whether west or east coast). It's a reef break and the wave is also a bit thicker so it can have some punch to it. 

Coming up ... bodysurfing Sandy Beach and Makapu'u. 

The Solution to the Synoptic Problem (It's Easier Than You Think)

Now this one was really fun!

By the way, I found out that Paul also shares my view on the authorship of Hebrews. That interview will take place on August 25.

Thank you, Paul, for the joy and honor of being on your program! 

Kailua Beach: Medicine for the Soul

I admit: I have a Type A personality. I suffer from the "hurry up syndrome." Every trip to the islands shows me the error of my way. Here time doesn't exist. Traffic is, yes, a bit of a hassle, but no one honks their horn. People are much more likely to let you into their lane than cut you off. A simple "shaka" in return is all that's expected.

As you know, I just spent 8 days surfing on Oahu. I basically lived in the ocean the entire time. Surfing is a great exercise for the body. But even more it's an exercise for the soul, a time for unparalleled mental restoration. Poet William Wordsworth, who was a prodigious walker, once said that poetry was "emotion recollected in tranquility." Take, if you will, my experience at Kailua Beach, the two and a half mile stretch of pristine white sand I once called home. 

I have discovered that my tranquility develops about one second after my toes touch the sand. It takes that much time to detach myself from all my worries and my cares. I have a new awareness of myself, my world, and my God.

Carrying a surfboard into the ocean is not the only place this occurs, just the best. Monks take to their cells. Hermits to their shells. Writers withdraw to secluded spots. Grownups from Hawaii go to the beach, where motion makes time stand still. At "my" beach, I am totally and completely in the present. It's like that strange experience when you get so absorbed in reading a good book you are unaware you are reading. There are no discussions, no arguments, not even any emails to answer. You've stepped out of time into a new, reposeful now.

The union of body and mind reaches its highest height in sports such as surfing. Here there are no sophisticated debates, no squabbles about text types or "best" translations of the Bible. While surfing, the common man reaches excellence by making demands on himself. We are about the business of creating a unique self as we discover the stony strength that is there in all of us. For me, surfing has narrowed the distance between the person I am and the person I can be. When I head back to the shore after my final wave, I am twice young. True, I have little in common with the young Dave. 

He thought school was a bore. I love studying. He had no career aspirations. I have been blessed with a career that can only be described as unbelievably satisfying. He was content to be island-bound. I suffer from an incurable Wanderlust. And so it goes. Yet there remains one thing that young Dave and the not-so-young Dave have in common. Both responded to a primal call to be one with nature by getting on top of a piece of fiberglass-covered foam. Only when I look in the mirror am I aware of any change. Today I am in my body as it was and is and shall be forevermore. 

And now, in my 70s, I am convinced more than ever of the untapped potential resident in my body. Some may think that I operate at a level physically that others may consider unusual. I don't. All I know is this: If we are to outwit old age, we have to remain active, whatever it takes. For me, surfing is the secret of youth. The waves awaken the same feeling they did when I was a kid. Their grandeur and beauty have never changed. When I come out of the water, I feel larger than life. And for just a little while, I return to the glory days of my youth.

The message: Go to the beach. It's medicine for the soul.