Surfing, Depression, and Praying for Sunny Garcia
Please join me in praying for Sunny.
Sunny Garcia is a giant in the surfing world. In the year 2000 Garcia won the ASP WCT World Title. He has won the prestigious Triple Crown a record six times. Throughout the 1990’s Garcia surfed with remarkable consistency, placing in the top 10 each year.
Garcia has a larger than life personality and in the past several years has been quite open with his struggles in the area of depression and mental illness. I have been very encouraged as he openly shares his struggles. Garcia’s vulnerability is endearing and relatable.
Several months ago I woke to read the tragic news that Sunny Garcia attempted to take his own life. Garcia is recovering and more can be read here of his current condition (you can also donate to his recovery): https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-sunny-garcia-and-family
Photo of Sunny Garcia taken from the most recent update from The Inertia website. https://www.theinertia.com
Mental illness is becoming more of a norm in discussion, but I believe we have a ways to go. Depression has been an issue in my own life. I share briefly in my new book, Dropping In: Experience the Life You Were Meant to Live, of my struggles with depression and anxiety. Below is my story:
It was past midnight and I was up again. My heart rate was alarmingly high, I was sweating, and I knew sleep would not happen again this night. What was wrong with me?
I made several trips to my physician over the previous several months, had a ridiculous amount of blood drawn and tests done, and was finally told that my constant fatigue, rapid heart rate, and insomnia were due to depression and an anxiety disorder.
As my doctor shared this with me, I literally began to argue with him, “What? No, Doc, you’ve got it wrong. I’ve got my stuff together.” I couldn’t accept what my doctor, a medical professional, was saying about the state of my emotional well-being.
I thought that I could not be anxious or depressed because I’m a leader. I help others with their problems. I can handle my own problems. I cast my anxieties on the Lord (1 Peter 5:6-7), I can just pray for peace (Philippians 4:8) and God will work it out. Isn’t that how it is supposed to work?
Despite these constant prayers, for the first time in my life, I felt on an emotional and physical level, completely broken. I had not gone surfing for months, which was a testament to how bad I was feeling.
I struggled during that time because I’ve always bought into the myth that leaders should always look good. They appear put together well because they are put together well. Leaders feel good and they help others feel good. They don’t have problems. And, when they do, they solve them quickly and easily.
Right?
Wrong.
Here is a challenge for you: Show me a leader in the Bible that is put together well-a leader that is not broken.
Keep thinking.
David? No, King David slayed his giants, but he was also a murderer and adulterer.
Jesus’ disciple Peter, whom Jesus built the church upon? No again. Peter denied Christ three times, cut off a servant’s ear, and was an emotional roller-coaster , a mess, throughout his time with Jesus.
How about the great Apostle Paul? The same guy who wrote more than half of the New Testament. Surely, he had has life put together well, right? Wrong again. Paul hunted down and persecuted followers of Jesus before he became a Christian. In his own words, as he wrote to his friend Timothy, Paul said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (I Timothy 1:15)
The short end of it is that God fills the Bible with broken people and hurting people.
When I finally began to grasp the fact that I was, indeed, a very broken person, I was even more aware of God’s grace and healing power. As I opened up to God, friends, and family I realized that God uses broken people (and brings healing, which is for another post). God used broken people throughout the Bible, and – fortunately for me -- he uses broken people today.
If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, please talk to your doctor, go see a licensed therapist, a pastor, confide in friends, and pray. God will meet you where you are, and perhaps bring healing through these people. God understands our hurt, our brokenness, our pain.
Please join me, and people all over the world, in praying for Sunny.
Sunny recovering with the help of friends and family. Photo used from the Inertia website and their most recent update on Garcia’s condition.