Imagine the Seminary

A tropical Mexican pointbreak, ain't it just divine? Photo: Stoner

Rob Gilley

Of all the wacky ideas I’ve heard in my life, possibly the wackiest came from an unlikely source: George Downing. A friend told me that at one time George was trying to make a serious bid to have surfing declared an official religion. When I initially heard this, I thought it was one of the silliest things I had ever encountered.

Now I’ve changed my thinking. In fact, I’ve done a complete 180.

I owe much of my change of heart to Wikipedia. To define the term “religion”, the site used the following words and phrases: Worship. Prayer. Universal belief systems. Claims of spiritual transcendence. Specific narratives, symbols, traditions, and sacred histories. Something that gives meaning to life and drives behavior. Rituals, feasts, funerary services, music, and art. Mantras. Purposeful choices to live lives of poverty to be closer to it. Pilgrimages.

And then the lightning bolt struck me: Surfing is more religious than religion is.

So given this divine revelation, let’s take it another step. Let’s claim it. Let’s give this religion of surfing a name. I don’t know, something appropriate, maybe slightly irreverent or fun…like how about The Church of Yew? And then maybe we could have cool sayings like Yew Dukefari, in acknowledgement of our patron saint of Aloha.

I’m totally serious. In fact, I’m actually starting to feel a bit rapturous just thinking about all this. Well, that and the potential tax-exempt status.

Leonedin.com

Tonight, I used the good ol' Leonedin.com networking app - like LinkedIn but with a 1000000x times (at least) higher quality control & a raging filter that is par non.

Had a great meal with Oliver in London who, as you can see, sports a worthy fro.

A brother from another British mother.

A beacon in the night

While strolling home from a Plymouth pub and enjoying a strength on a dark & stormy night I came across this little reminder of home & cobbing.

Also worth noting that the surf here is going off. Sadly I could sample it due to my injured wing.

Bad Day for Samoan Loggers

Looks like there is more reasons to make weight. Maybe there will be gyms on the plane again?