When the Homily is about Immunology

Water, water, water

We love it, we are drawn to it, we play in it, we fish in it, we ride on it, we explore in it, we drink it, we need it, we are made mostly of it...and it can and often does destroy our homes, our towns, and our cities. The same substance that is absolutely neccesary to your life, can in an instant snuff it out. And yet...we remain drawn to it.

I recall a few years back after a surgery I became terribly dehydrated and as I did I grew to be insatiably preoccupied with water. Unable to consume it in quantities I needed, I would stand under showers just to feel it, I'd swim, I'd go to the river and just watch it and wade in it, I'd go to the fish hatchery to see these gigantic pipes push out gallons upon gallons of clear cool water into the fry pools. It was water pornography.

I've always LOVED water...and truly do miss living near the river - despite the obvious potential dangers of doing so. Even a rotten day fishing is redeemed by the glories of the drift itself - in my humble opinion.

Our relation to water is analogous to some dergree, I think, to our relationship with God. Some are absoultely terrified of water - yet, cannot help but need it, some relish it and "play" in or upon it only to learn to late that the water is never never never tame. From day to day we may find ourselves anywhere in between the two extremes.

And it seems altogether right that we Christians baptize ourselves in water. The Didache suggests we make every effort to use cold and "living" (interpretted as running) water when we baptize and there is certainly no shortage of THAT here in the Northwest. Any volunteers? Personally I think it would be fantastic to haul our newest converts up to the Skykomish and then after the blessed event we can hit the river for Steelhead - perhaps God would make such a trip particularly fruitful?

When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord,
The worship of the Trinity wast made manifest
for the voice of the Father bear witness to Thee
Calling Thee his beloved Son.
And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the certainty of the word.
O christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world,
glory be to Thee!