One Baptism: Above all, through all, in all.
As they (Philip and the eunuch) were going along the road,
they came to some water;
and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?
He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them,
Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water,
and Philip baptized him. Acts 8: 36-38
The Minnesota lake is cool even under the warm July sun. Sara and her grade school cousins gather at the family reunion, spending hours in the water, laughing, splashing, diving and playing shark, never noticing the cold.
Her parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents stay dry sitting on the shore telling stories, sharing memories and drinking coffee around a picnic table.
Grandpa Frank, however, is growing restless. An active man for his 80 years, he’s still strong and vibrant from working the land on his Nebraska farm since a young boy. Tired of just talking, he needs to do something.
He walks to the water’s edge, intrigued and curious. He has only experienced walking into the vast expanse of farm fields and knows the joy of wading into the wheat, the wind creating waves throughout the seeded stems. But here sparkling light dances in the water, the waves driven by the wind and the laughter of his grandchildren entice him to come and explore.
Grandpa Frank laughs as he removes his shoes, socks and belt and rolls up his pant legs. Sara sees him gingerly walking barefoot into the lake, screams in delight, runs toward him and splashes him with water. Now fully wet, he shivers with delight.
Soon all the grandchildren surround him, splashing, draping themselves on his strong body, together falling into the lake, laughing and begging for more. Within play and water, love is rooted through the generations.
Breathprayer: Breathing in: Come to the waters…
Breathing out: …. for newness of life.
Reflection: When have you played in the water and remembered renewal and connection?
This reflection is written for the online Lenten Devotion of the Southeast Iowa Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
www.seiasynod.org/lent