California's famous surf has been the focus of innumerable films, fistfights and turf wars. Most recently, it's been swarmed by paparazzi in pursuit of surfing celebs [1] who ride more than a wave of popularity.

Surfing is a meditative haven for solitary athletes who savor the quiet of the paddle out almost as much as the thrill of the ride back in, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that many express spiritual feelings about their recreation.

They all ask for at least one common thing when they pray — a great point break (and you thought all waves were created equal!). And all surfers worship the same higher power — they respect the ocean, grateful for the gift, yet acknowledging what can happen out there when things go wrong.

So it isn't such a stretch to have a spiritual service on the beach. There are hundreds of sunrise services on the beach in celebration of Easter each year, but the one organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, California this year was nondenominational. Spiritual leaders of several faiths — Jewish, Mormon and Islamic — joined with Christians for a Blessing of the Waves.

Held in Huntington Beach [2], original home of the U.S. Surfing Championships [3], the date for this event was chosen because it fell just one day after the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi [4], friend of the animals and "patron saint of ecology." It was inspired in part by Hawaiian surf legend Duke Kahanamoku [5], whose tradition of starting off surf championships with a prayer was informally continued over the years by Sunday morning surfers.

The interfaith gathering fulfilled a wider role in these challenging times. It brought surfers of widely differing religions and, one has to assume, political affiliations together in harmony on the beach they all love.

Photo by Mike Baird.