Lots of funny things happen in church. And a number of those (at least for me) have been in the baptistery.
When we baptize you in the Baptist church, we do it right. You get wet from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.
I do all I can to make this a memorable and dignified moment for the candidate. But there are those times. I once was baptizing a man (250 plus pounds) and a 9-year-old girl on the same day. Usually I baptize the youngest first, but I was concerned about how it would go with the man. So he went first. And it was simple and easy. Under the water and back up without a hitch.
I breathed easy as the young lady approached.
I could tell she was nervous, but I was not worried. I spoke my prepared words, and started to lower her beneath the water. She panicked and grabbed a handful of my hair. I had a quick decision to make. Go with her, or have my hair pulled out. So we went together.
More recently I was speaking to our church from the pool when I noticed my foot getting strangely warm. Then I realized I had a problem. My waders had sprung a leak. It was not terrible. My socks and one pant leg got damp.
I didn’t mention it that morning, but I was at Bass Pro the next day, buying a new set.
It’s funny how we plan and prepare for things to go a certain way, and then life happens. Nothing goes according to the plan. And many of us fret as a result. We worry and lose sleep when, the truth is that it is going to be fine.
Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
That is just a reminder that the Lord will work in our lives according to his plans for us. Do you trust him to do that? He really does know what is best.