I hope this post sounds more like a love letter then a blog because truly that’s what it is. A beautiful celebration of the the most divine romance in the world.
The other night my team and I all sat in a field and prayed for an hour straight. During this time of solitude and stillness, I was overwhelmed with the beauty that surrounded me. The beauty in every inch of his creation, from the gradient calm colors of the sky, to the dewy grass, to the emerging stars peeking through the purple of the sky. Just so in love with him and this good, strange, beautiful and hard life he’s given me.
I felt as though I heard him say, “well you’re in love with me and I’m in love with you, what are you waiting for, let’s make this divine romance offical!” So I ran to my team, told them that I wanted to be baptized. Right now, right here. They supported me so well and we ran across the field and found a small, dirty and a bit deflated kitty pool (crazy how he provides like that) and drug it to the nearest hose and filled it up.
As the purple sky turned navy blue, I sat down into this little kitty pool with all my clothes on and my team prayed. Here’s where the story gets silly and raw.
My sweet team leader Carol baptized me, in the midst of a large crowd of people walking past, a motorcycle pulling up next to us and a confusion on even how you properly do a baptism. When I dunked my head, the water didn’t fill up the pool all the way so the top of my face didn’t submerge, so then I turned around and smacked my face into the kitty pool head first. It was a humorous experience to say the least.
The baptism was messy, chaotic, full of giggles, untraditional and so so perfect.
After, we ran back to the rest of our squad for worship night and worshiped in my wet clothes and all. Perfect. All so perfect.
I think it’s such a sweet reflection to what following Jesus really looks like. Just like diving headfirst into a kitty pool, it’s diving headfirst into the kingdom. It’s spontaneous and dirty and unsure and fun and even a little scary. It’s completely emptying yourself to walk in freedom.
Man, there is such celebration in surrender. To lay down everything you know, think and hold onto to surrender everything to him. And let me tell you I couldn’t be happier.
It’s not contentment, and it never will be but it’s joy, an everlasting joy that rests in me and allows me to wake up every morning with a softened heart and fresh eyes. To love, to receive, to serve and dance in freedom.
Life won’t be perfect from now on, I definitely won’t be perfect from now on but that’s what’s so sweet about surrender to Jesus. He doesn’t want us to focus on our sins, he wants us to fall in love with him and out of overflow of that love we follow him in such close relationship.
Thanks Jesus for sweet, messy, chaotic, and a little silly celebration of your goodness.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5sKtIJftc6UOk55jdZPg5F?si=0rCpE6ydS4yNhWSF_Q6s7g
a song that’s been a reflection of this season^^
diving headfirst into the kingdom. so so beautiful. wow He’s really proud of you. i’m thankful for you and your passionate and obedient heart!!
Beautifully written and so powerful all around. So, so perfect!
ELINA! I’m BEYOND proud of you and your desire to do this thing with Jesus. I love you and am so honored to get to do life by your side. Thanks a million for letting me into this special night! A moment I’ll never forget either!