Water Water Everywhere!

And not a drop to drink… My grandfather’s favorite poem was the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and used that line quite a bit. Well, there is water everywhere, especially when you are headed down the coast of Florida. 

I stayed in a hotel last night. Mostly to recuperate from the rain the day before. When I woke up this morning, it had just finished raining. I uncovered and wiped down the bike and looked at the weather report. The report showed possibility of rain on the route, but the radar didn’t show anything but minor blips, so I risked it. I decided not to cover everything or put on a rain suit (man, those things are warm). It ended up being a beautiful day. Hot and humid (93°), but beautiful. It only got hazy toward the end of the day.

One of the relaxing joys that I find while riding is what I see and experience vs. what I might see from a car. Relaxed, but hyper-aware and “safe” (for the worriers). I took in the sights today. The last time I was this way was 2015, and I took A1A and island hopped down from Daytona. I decided not to do that and decided to see different sights from Rt. 17 and Rt. 1. It did not disappoint. 

Back to the water…. With all the water that I saw today from salt marsh to intercostal waterways to ocean, my grandfather saying the line from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner rolled around in my head. I know I’ve heard him say it a thousand times, and it was almost as if her were there with me. So, because I didn’t have any in-person visits today, my visitor was more the spiritual presence of my grandfather. It’s only fitting. He was a WWII Navy Veteran and a Machinist in the Shipyard for many years. He was always around water. He even lived on the water and he loved to fish. 

Water is a formidable source of power and strength in the scriptures. We see waters in the beginning of creation used by God to bring forth life and every living thing. Water was also the powerful destructive force that recreated the earth in the great flood. Water parted to deliver the children of Israel. Water sprung forth from the rock in the wilderness to give God’s people drink. Water baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Waters bubbled up and healed the sick. Jesus walked on the water. James, John, Peter, and Andrew fished in the water… many, many, many, instances of water. Too many to name. These are just the few that rattled around in my head today as I was riding down the coast. We continue to use water in the church to baptize and to wash. 

Challenge to St. James: (more of a thought) should we introduce the practice of having a Holy Water Stoup at the entrances to the worship space so we can “remember our baptism” every time we come into worship? [A Holy Water stoup is a small vessel that contains blessed water and allows people to dip their fingers in the water and make the sign of the cross upon entering the church as a reminder of their baptism.]

Challenge to Self: As I think through challenges to myself this evening. I challenge myself to make sure I stay hydrated in this heat. Water is necessary for the body! Every time I take a drink of water, I remember my baptism! ;)