Living Water by Nick Sammons

“For every surfer, and every surfing community.”

This is the opening line of the mission statement of Christian Surfers.

What I like about it is that it reaches beyond just surfers. It wants to reach whole communities too; our neighbors.

Jesus was asked once “Who is my neighbor?” 

He answered with a great story, the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10) And his answer, simplified, is “everyone.”

What’s really interesting to me, though, is that he crafts a story not just saying “everyone”; he introduces some characters like himself and his audience, but they aren’t the heroes.  In fact, they are included as a cautionary tale. They are the ones missing it.

The priest and Levite characters Jesus speaks of walk down the road, see a man beaten and in need of help, and pass by on the other side of the road, ignoring him. They’ve got various excuses, perhaps. “Touching him would make me unclean” or “He’s not from my tribe."

With everything going on in our country right now, the circumstances and this passage have brought me to ask myself: “Is it possible that I'm not hearing my neighbor's plea for help? Is it possible I’m turning my face away and making excuses to not engage? Am I just walking by and missing it?"

Jesus teaches we are all neighbors. We all belong to each other. We have a responsibility to see, engage, and love.

An overwhelming theme of the Bible is God’s attention to oppression and injustice. The Bible is the story of the underdog. The Bible warns against turning your eyes away.

In such difficult and complex times, 

Isaiah 1:17 is a great place to start.

"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.”

along with Jesus’ affirmation earlier in Luke 10: 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

and graciously remember: 

“Perfection is not a prerequisite to participation.” 

CS strives to be a tribe open to everyone. A tribe who invites, welcomes, and listens as we participate in what God is doing to restore the whole neighborhood.