4 Years Ago Today

I will never forget what happened 4 years ago on this very day.  It was the most life altering day of my life.  By far the most significant in my 27 (almost 28 year life).  On February 29th, 2004 I was baptized in a hot tub belonging to a Lake Hills Church member.  It was an overcast day, with a few spots of sunshine, but all in all a bit chilly.  There were many of us.  New believers, long-time church goers (the non-commitals, hahaha), and many spectators surrounding the pool and hot tub that day.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was extremely emotional.  After all Jesus Christ was, is, and will be the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. 

That day, all of me died!  Literally.  From the moment I was raised up out of the water, my life would never be the same.  As I stepped out of the hot tub and into the brisk air, I grabbed the towel that was being handed to me and headed straight for an inconspicuous corner of the property (behind a cabana and at the corner of a fence), where I completely lost it.  As I began weeping with grief, sorrow, and joy I knew that my life was completely different.  I had committed to Christ as He had already fully committed to me almost 2000 years prior.  I couldn't help but think about what had happened, where I had come, and how I had gotten there. 

As the tears began to subside, I knew that I had to return to the group and watch my new friends, brothers, and sisters as they entered the water.  As I turned around an older woman approached me and smiled.  "Isn't this a great day?"  She asked.  "I don't think it could get any better."  I responded.

I remembered thinking that this must be the end of the conversation.  Not a whole lot of other things were needing to be said.  After all, I did not even know this woman and she sure doesn't know me.  

"I have seen and witnessed thousands of these during my time."  She said gently.  "And yours...yours was different."  She said with a really big smile on her face.  

I smiled back at that woman as she turned to go back to the crowd.  A few of my friends spotted me and ran up to begin congratulating me on the day and on my commitment to baptism.  

I remember that day like it was yesterday.  

Four years later, I still think about that older woman.  I have since that day become very involved in our church, through volunteering to set-up mobile-church, to middle school small group facilitating, to interning, and now as a full-time staff member on the high school ministry team.  I believe God can do and say things in and through just about anyone or anything.  And today, I believe in Angels, because today I remember a day of commitment, a day of change, and a day of a woman that I have seen once and never after.  

God fuels, restores, and redeems me daily.  And I will wake up tomorrow, like I did today and I will praise His name and I will remember forever...Leap Year Day of 2004.