Baptism

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:1-6

Baptism

Dear Lord of the living waters
most of us were lightly sprinkled
held safe and secure in loving arms
yet now we are sinking down deep
all of us under water with this virus.

The friendly inviting sun kissed shores
are now churned up and crashing
frigid spray has covered over us all
we trembled hidden away from others
sure that sickness and death will spread.

We cannot gather by the river side
nor can we wait in line for one like John
we cannot sing our songs loudly together
at a distance we cannot hear the children
yet we once again want to wade in deep.

You love us in are fear and in anxiety
in our hunger and our fatness as well
in these endless days of waiting on release
help us to know that in every rain drop
every splash signals your presence here. Amen