SLOVENSKO
we have just had a very special baptism. whenever anyone sincerely makes this step, it is a special occasion, but this one was different. there are several reasons for that.
for one, the wether forecast was
rain and storms throughout the country. having in mind that wether is one of the most unpredictable things on earth, and that God is above it, we prayed that in the time slot needed for the baptism to take place, we would have bearable wether. it could be cloudy, but dry. when my friend, the candidate, called a day earlier with the news that it is still raining, i said that we will have sunshine. well, i do not control the elements, but i do believe, and this just popped into my mind. so i said it and prayed for this to happen.
on our way to the beautiful bohinj lake through the heavy rain i called vesna to ask her what wether she is being in now. rainy. but she was not yet at the destination. twenty minutes before the due time, an elder called and told me that there is sunshine on site. talk about happiness! and gratitude!
well, i was still quite an embarrassing distance away at the moment. no justification, although there was a traffic jam on the highway. my time calculation was wrong. and when i arrived and lead the way to the beach, i believe we started with the programme probably 40 minutes late. very soon, the rain commenced. it was my first baptism in the rain. i now (very biblically) take these raindrops as a representation of the Holy Spirit needed for spiritual growth and service. and, yes, the grace has its limits, mind you! at the time prayed for, there was sunshine, and by the time we started, we could have finished.
another reason to make this occasion so special is that i baptized a person who has become a very good friend of mine. very creative friend at that, whose superb giftedness i want to show you here.
this is the card she made as a memento for the attendees. the art is not just in the form, but also in the ideas expressed:
everybody would recognize the bird as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. but with it vesna also illustrated herself. the bird has obviously passed from an image on the paper to 3D form. in a way, it is liberated. it is in the shape of the cross and has bible words about unfailing love of God printed on it. so, by what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and by His word transmitted to her, she is freed. the shadow under her wings is left behind. she is flying to so splendidly drawn symbol of life and peace, which will fully become reality at Jesus' coming. wow!
may God bless you, vesna, on you way. may you experience genuine and rich walk through whatever awaits you. may He grant you joy and victory!
i
love your card. and i love -
you!