While I was in New Zealand I saw a program on television capturing a day in the life of Championship Surfer Bethany Hamilton. If you remember...she's the girl who experienced a traumatic shark attack and lost an arm. But she didn't let the accident keep her from doing what she was born to do...surf!
Having grown up in Hawaii (as Bethany has) I have always loved the ocean. I can remember boogie boarding and body surfing as a child and enjoying hanging out at the beaches continually. Recently when I was in New Zealand I was able to go surfing at Raglan Beach and I loved every moment! As the waves came roaring towards me and I scrambled to get on the board to ride them in I imagined what my life might have been like if I had stayed in Hawaii instead of moving to the mainland...and eventually inland...I might have aspired surf.
Tonight I had the crazy opportunity to go to a special screening preview of the new movie "Soul Surfer" that will open in theatres worldwide on April 8. It's based on the true story of Bethany's love for surfing and her struggle to continue after the shark attack. The movie is very well done! I highly recommend it. It speaks of Bethany's deep faith in God and overwhelming determination to be who she is meant to be in this life. Top actors like Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid are in the movie, along with singer/songwriter Carrie Underwood. The action is intense, the story is inspiring, and I gotta say...it tugged on my heart strings!
April 8th...go see "Soul Surfer"!
