I’ve seen many people get baptized. In a pool. In a tank. In the ocean. But I had never experienced being dunked for a water baptism. I’ve been known to have a great memory, and I remember parts of my baptism when I was 3 years old. The pastor sprinkled water on my head in front of my Grandma’s church.
It was 35 years later when I decided I was ready to receive my baptism. I knew I wanted to get baptized in the ocean at S. 8th St. (of course). It was the obvious choice considering my walk with the Lord. But I also wanted my husband to perform my baptism on our wedding anniversary which is 08 November. I couldn’t think of a better person–the man that I met and married at 8th St. (my surfmate) and of whom never gave up on me for my salvation. I asked Bill to do this, and with lots of tears from both us, he agreed.
It was in March when I asked Bill if he would baptize me in November of that same year. My baptism was months away. It was in my heart to read The Bible from start to finish before I was baptized. It’s funny because normally I am the one to get things done quickly, but he was having a hard time waiting.
I finished The Bible about a week before our wedding anniversary. As the day came near, the weather was getting worse. We had Tropical Storm Eta (previously a Cat 4 hurricane when it hit Central America) approaching our area that weekend. Our anniversary was on a Sunday and by Friday, the seas and winds were increasing.
We looked at the waves on Saturday, 07 Nov, and they were already 8 feet high with sustained winds close to 30 MPH. It was only building. But I knew I was going to be baptized the next morning at 8th Street. On our anniversary morning, we did our Sunday morning communion together and ventured to the beach. The waves were bigger and the winds greater, but I knew that Jesus was with us. All I thought about were the disciples in the boat during a storm (Matthew 8:26). But unlike Peter, I had BIG faith for this day!
During the waiting months leading up to my baptism, Bill asked if I would prefer someone else to do my baptism like our pastor. I knew it was supposed to be Bill. And when we saw the ocean and weather conditions, it was confirmation that Bill was God’s choice. There is no other person I would have trusted in raging seas to do my baptism. Many people don’t know how to navigate the ocean in 6 to 9 foot waves with shore breaks and rip tides, but my husband and fellow surfer does have this wisdom.
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26 (NKJV)
When we approached the boardwalk, we looked at the ocean and found a spot that appeared to be the best. Hand-in-hand, we walked in to about knee-deep water which turned into waist-deep when the waves came in rapidly. There was an immediate drop off which made it over our heads, so timing was everything. We timed it with the waves. I repeated after Bill, confessing my love for Jesus and confirming He is my Lord and Savior. And as a wave was starting to break near us, he submerged me in the ocean and lifted me to my renewed mind, body, and soul. It was perfect! Just as God always is.
