TraceMalin

I grew up in a Christian home where my father was Roman Catholic and had attended Catholic school and my mother was Methodist and taught Sunday School. My parents met after my father got out of the Marines when my mother his horseback riding instructor. I grew up Methodist until age 11 when our minister left to be an Army chaplain. The assistant coach of my Little League team was a Presbyterian minister so we switched to his church. I was baptized Methodist and confirmed Presbyterian. My mother taught Sunday School and became a Deacon. My father rarely attended.

I graduated from a private Catholic college with a BA in English and minors in philosophy and theology. While in college, I stopped attending church regularly. Worship services were less spiritually fulfilling than the courses I was taking. But, I would occasionally go to mass with my girlfriend who was a lector.

After college, I backslid in my behavior as a Christian because of a weakness for beautiful women. I never smoked, drank, did drugs, and I lived a healthy lifestyle and never lost a close relationship with God. In fact, I probably spent more time talking to God than most clergy. Church became the wilderness, the ocean, long stretches of road to run, and I felt God's presence far more greatly in His creation rather than the walls of ours. My current girlfriend is a Catholic who attended Catholic school. She's a professional figure skating coach.

But, I believe that church is essential even though I only attend once in a blue moon.

I'm a professional lifeguard, SCUBA Instructor who teaches technical and cave diving, and commercial diver. I volunteer as a Rescue/Recovery Site Operations Manager and Diver with the International Underwater Cave Rescue & Recovery team. I enjoy hiking, horseback riding, target shooting, and surfing.