Part of a Tribe

Written on 11-28-06

I watched one of my favorite movies of all time yesterday (In God’s Hands) and was inspired yet again to consider some of the deeper messages that are worked into this film. I don’t know why I love this movie so much. Maybe it’s because it is an authentic account of a real lifestyle of surfers, or maybe it’s because I see a bit of my self in the main actor Shane Dorian. He is also from California and throughout the film he seeks to understand the deep simplicity and beauty of life in connection with nature; why, when he’s in the midst of it everything just seems to make perfect sense, and he dares not to ask for more out of it than the simple life giving experience it brings, for fear of it all being taken away. Living here on the Central Coast of California, what some writers claim to be the most beautiful place on earth, I can relate to this intense longing to grasp the deep beauty and understanding of the mystery of life in connection with the natural world. There’s a great mystical/spiritual element in this film which causes me every time to remember how precious of a gift this earth is and the reality that this is the place where I am able to experience and live out a real relationship with God and his people in community.

At one point in the film the journalist, who is following this community of surfers and documenting the deeper journey of Shane Dorian, shows him some of the photos he has taken along the way. As they are on a native island, training for the big wave surfing, he mentions to Shane a reality that he was not previously aware of. "You may not realize it, but you and your friends are part of a tribe; one built on mutual respect, and a common understanding of what it takes to do what you do (surf big waves)." This line in the film hit me this time around and caused me to realize this truth about my own life and the various tribes I have been a part of.

Whether it is a group of rock climbers waking up at 4 am to hike 5 hours into an isolated rock face in attempt to conquer its peak, a group of backpackers climbing up a mountain one step at a time as they feel the weight of their heavy packs on their back, or a group of college interns seeking a deeper understanding of life and leadership together in an outdoor education program, these are all tribes with a deep significance of their own. Each serves a purpose in the life of its members and as a part of these tribes at one time or another. I have been changed by the relationships and life experiences shared with these people on my own life journey. I too, like Shane Dorian have found myself in places of stillness and awe-someness with the world around me. I have found that in these moments it all makes sense and I dare not selfishly ask for anything more from it but the simple, profound reality of the truth that I encounter there. It is in these moments that I am reminded of the beauty of the deep mystery of life and the fact that I am being held in God’s hands. This is a mystery I will forever be captivated by and simply called to live and enjoy it for what it is, not seeking more for my own satisfaction or pleasure but simply being a part of something bigger.