One of the mistakes I've made and regrets I have

I made a mistake-again. I regret an action I took, or didn’t take. But, sometimes we struggle with change and we don’t see all the opportunity that lays before us if we would just consider doing things a little differently than we have done them in the past. Let me explain.

I was fishing for red salmon on the Kenai River on August 14 and 15. That trip was quite enjoyable. But, the joy I find in fishing is not just working to catch fish and actually landing them. Another joy I find is the relationships that can be built as people spend time together and relate to one another while fishing, sharing what is happening in their lives. So, when I arrived on the banks of the Kenai River on Thursday morning, August 14, I was greeted by a young mother. She asked me politely, “Would you please keep a distance of at least 6 feet? I have a daughter who is ill.” As we talked I learned that her daughter had liver problems, lung problems, and other serious health issues. We found a connection in that her daughter had been treated for many years since very early in life at Shands Hospital (UF Health) in Gainesville, Florida. Gainesville is where my family moved with my dad’s job in 1965, and continues to reside in that general area.

But, I didn’t see the woman’s daughter. She had to spend the night with Grandma because of her health issues. So, imagine my surprise when this little girl arrives to fish and play on the river with mom and others, running around like a normal healthy child. And, this active little girl likes dogs. I often take my dog, Mat, fishing. Mat is friendly with anyone who will pet him, or especially who will feed him. Mat and this little girl became fast friends. She even asked me to leave Mat with her overnight.

The next day, Friday, August 15, turned out to be an even better day for fishing. Again his little girl, her name is Trinity, was not at first present because she had spent the night with Grandma. I had felt a connection with Trinity on Thursday, and had prayed for her and her health concerns on Thursday night as I went to bed. I missed seeing her on Friday morning. But then, the family picked her up to fish with them, and she arrived early in the afternoon. She told me she was glad I was still there fishing. I was glad to see her too.

While fishing, another fisherman asked me what I did. I shared that I was a retired pastor. Trinity’s mom heard that conversation. Later I shared with Trinity’s mom that I had prayed for Trinity and for the family. We got to talking and I mentioned that I had written a devotion that might apply to our conversation. Right away mom looked up the devotion on The Frontiersman’s web site.

But, I needed to get home Friday evening, so I cleaned my fish and packed up to leave. As I got ready to crawl into my boat, Trinity came over to me and asked me “Will you baptize me?” I had tears in my eyes. Mom explained that the family had talked about baptism for quite a while but, even before COVID-19, Trinity has been susceptible to illness and infection and has not gone out into crowds, and therefore had not attended regular worship at a Christian Church. That could be dangerous to her health.

Here is where I made my mistake. When I have baptized people in the past, I have always first taught a short Bible Study, looking at verses from Scripture that discuss baptism. We usually read Matthew 28:19-20 and see that baptism and teaching, that God’s sacrament and His Word, are the means or tools our Lord uses to make disciples. We look at Mark 16:15-16, or at 1 Peter 3:21, or John 3:3-5, to see that baptism is a tool God uses even to save us. In these studies preparing for baptism we consider Ephesians 5:26, where baptism is described as “. . . the washing with water through the Word,” showing that God’s Word is the power with the water to baptize the individual. We also study Acts 2:38-39 where Peter explains that when a person is baptized, they are forgiven, they are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they are called to God. I ask people and families being baptized to look at these Scriptures, and maybe some other verses too. Then I ask, “Who is doing the action in a baptism? Is it the person being baptized who acts, or is it God?” In study and discussion we see that baptism is God’s gift, or God’s grace in the life of the person being baptized. Then, understanding how God works, we plan the baptism. That was my practice and custom as pastor when working towards baptism with someone.

So, I replied to Trinity and to her mom that I usually like to have a Bible Study before the baptism so people understand what is happening. I gave them my contact information and asked, “What if we go through a class by phone? I’ll be back on the Kenai on August 29 and 30. We could do the baptism on August 30 after worship is over at Sterling Lutheran Church. Would that work?” We agreed to this plan, but then . . . I never heard from them again, and Trinity did not get baptized, at least not by me. I kept waiting to hear from them. I tried to find them, but I was unsuccessful and greatly disappointed.

I realized that I had made a mistake. In Acts 8 Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch, who is reading from Isaiah 53. After some questions and answers in which Philip explains that the subject of Isaiah 53 is Jesus, and as Philip explains how God works to save people, we are told, “As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?’” (Acts 8:36) Philip baptized this Ethiopian official right there in the water beside the road! He seized the opportunity God had given.

I believe that I made a mistake in not letting God wash and forgive, and in not letting God give the gift of the Holy Spirit, and call, and save Trinity right there in the Kenai River. I had my phone, with many Bibles on my phone. We could have looked at Scriptures and let God work through baptism right there. But, I guess I remembered the pattern of baptisms from my past, and let that pattern get in the way of the opportunity right before me. I regret my decision.

In 2 Corinthians 6 Paul talks about the urgency of faith. He writes to the church, “1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) Thankfully, God is always present in Jesus to work in our lives and to save us. God’s time is NOW!

I wonder what other opportunities to receive and to share God’s grace I have missed. Do I let past patterns get in the way of current opportunities? How about you? Do you remember times you have missed receiving or sharing God’s love in Jesus?