September 16 – “Double baptism”

We had another baptism on the beach yesterday afternoon.  Ordinarily we do them as part of our worship experience, but in this case the family couldn’t all get here until early afternoon, so we made some allowances.  The young man’s Mom and aunts all grew up going to Seaside as kids, and I guess Jacob has heard some of their stories.  They now live in Dickinson.  His Mom asked if I would be willing to do the baptism, because Jacob really wanted to do it in the Gulf.  Of course I was honored to be asked.

We made the trek over from the church around 1:30.  There were twenty or so family members present, so we all gathered in a cluster to talk about what baptism means.  Jacob indicated that he gave his life to Jesus while at church camp, and we were ready to hit the water.  Now, there is a hurricane out in the Gulf right now, albeit much closer to Mexico than here.  But its very presence out there has an effect on tides and wave action.  The water was very rough, and I noticed right away a strong pull away from the shore.  The waves were also crashing strong from the other direction.  Jacob and I were almost to knee-deep water when suddenly he was gone.  One of the waves just took him out like a linebacker making an open field tackle.  He came up sputtering and laughing and grasping for his missing flip-flop a few feet back.  It took him a moment to get his bearings again, and I told him he was supposed to wait for me to say the baptism words before he went under.  We eased out just a few feet further, and turned to face his family on the shore.  I got “the words” in this time, and as I eased him backwards, God provided just the right size wave to engulf him with the symbol of his new life.  I suppose Jacob can always say it took a double baptism to bring him into the fold.

Back on the shore his Mom and Dad each had gifts for him to celebrate the day.  It was a very special moment, both for his family and for the Family of God.  Welcome to the family, Jacob.

Psalms 111:7-8 says, “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.  They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.”

Father, walk with Jacob as he grows ever closer to you.  Amen.