Prior to going to Portugal, we had started a surfing documentary. Don’t ask me why, I have never surfed a day in my life! So naturally a ‘must see’ destination for me was the quaint coastal town of Nazare!

We were traveling just before big wave season. But, still, I secretly hoped a big wave might sneak in early just for me. Spoiler alert, it did not. Instead, I saw a gorgeous coastline that was one of the calmest and most serene spots of our trip. 

You wouldn’t even know there is a 16,000-foot (or three-mile vertical) depth canyon right off the coast of Nazare.  To put that in perspective mamas, the Grand Canyon is 6,000 feet (or 1 mile vertical) depth. The canyon trench off this coast is over 140 miles long. But you can’t tell that from the surface, the coastline looked so innocent, and deceptively safe.

Once we returned home from vacation, we continued watching the series. This time with even more interest.  Everything was familiar now. I went right up to that lighthouse, I walked that trail, I saw those local ladies in their cultural wool skirts, and I stood where those crowds were gathered. I still don’t know where those thousands of onlookers went to the bathroom! Perhaps some things are better left a mystery?

I felt even more connected to these surfers now; I had been on their turf!

The surfers’ investment in chasing the perfect big wave is obvious throughout the docu series. They live for this adventure, and I sort of get it now. Waves offer consistency in a chaotic world. Waves are constant, unfailing; just like the relationship Jesus offers each one of us. Waves erase every misstep, every footprint in the sand, offering a clean slate thousands of time each day. There is no better illustration of grace.

In the last episode of the docu series, I saw something that was so subtle and yet epic. In the final moments of the series end, I caught a fleeting ‘choose me’ look dance across the wife’s face. It was a genuine look of yearning.  She wanted to be chosen by her spouse, to the same degree her spouse wanted to chase the waves.  Then I saw a second look of disappointment creep across her face, as she realized her yearning was in vain.

Choose me.

Each of us has a hole in our heart that can only be filled with Jesus.  In this docu series, I saw a surfer looking to find Jesus in the waves, and a wife looking to find Jesus in her husband.  Both their longings were unsatisfied.

Mamas, Jesus will choose you every time. All you have to do is ask.  He said so:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.…”  John 15:16

Mamas, how are you trying to fill your longing? With surfing? A spouse? Hobby? Addiction? Social Media? Let me give you a spoiler alert. It doesn’t work. You will be restless and unsatisfied your entire life.  Jesus is the only one that satisfies.  There is only one answer:

CHOOSE

JESUS

(If you want to know more, go to the Need a Best Friend tab)