story
NATE DORMAN
“While we were still marveling at the beauty of new life, holding our 3 week old daughter – we also had to consider the realities of potential death as I went in for my first brain surgery.”
Growing up in South Carolina, USA, I can remember my parents modeling love for God and for people. Moving into adulthood, I continued to step toward Jesus, saying ‘yes’ to His many invitations: yes to following Him, yes to being His son, and yes to being His friend. This journey of moving toward Christ has been a winding road of many high and hopeful moments, where the realness of God has felt tangibly close – and many dark scary moments, where I’ve wondered if He’s still there, (and if He is, if He still cares).
From ages 19-25 I traveled to nearly 20 countries competing on the WSL World Qualifying Series. These years of experiencing new people, places, and the best waves of the world drew me to God’s love. While on tour, my friends and I would gather regularly in hotel rooms and homes in different countries to eat, worship, pray, read the Bible, and to step toward Jesus together.
While on tour I met a dear friend who became like an uncle and mentor to me, Sumo Sato. After some years of friendship, he passed away from cancer, way too soon. Before his death he asked me and a friend to carry on the church he started – H2O Church in Huntington Beach, California, USA. Sumo’s passing still brings me lots of sadness – missing my friend, and I’m forever grateful that he showed me how to love God and people, in raw practical ways.
A couple years later, when my wife Paula was 8 months pregnant with our first child, I was diagnosed with a brain condition called Hydrocephalus. While we were still marveling at the beauty of new life, holding our 3 week old daughter – we also had to consider the realities of potential death as I went in for my first brain surgery. The following 2 ½ year period was spent in and out of the emergency room, as I had a total of 6 brain surgeries due to continued complications with the “shunt” system that was implanted in my brain.
Reflecting on the joys and pains of life thus far – surfing, family, and children – to death and sickness – I am continually reminded of God’s goodness and His grace. The stories in the Bible are raw and honest, they don’t sugarcoat the often painful and sucky parts of life – yet they confidently point to Jesus, the true source of hope.
Lamentations 3:19-24 says, “The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
I am continuing to ‘dare to hope’ in Jesus, our lifeline and our friend, will you join me?