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Venice, FL 34292

"Baptism in bed"

Sometimes, in the midst of the mundane, God breaks through and changes everything. This past week was like any other week, except for the fact that it was the transition week between summer and a new school year. My wife, being a fourth grade teacher at Venice Elementary, had to start work one week before school officially started. This left me at home with my two girls, juggling schedules, fitting in work and also the preparations for a new school year.

On Tuesday night right before my Bible Study at the church I received a phone call from Nina Roberts explaining that her husband Herb was now in Hospice care. There was obviously a lot of people at her house because I could hear all the voices in the background. Knowing that this night would not be a good time for a visit I made arrangements to come over to the house the following morning.

The next morning around 10am I knocked on the Roberts' front door. Nina opened the door and took me to Herb's bedside. There he was oxygen in his nose, Florida Gators blanket on the bed and big smile on his face. We talked for a little bit about a whole bunch of stuff but eventually the conversation had to turn to the obvious, Herb was dying.

Nina had told me the previous night on the phone that neither her nor Herb had been baptised, so admittedly I did come to their house with an agenda. How to start this conversation was my prayer. As I was sitting next to Herb's bed I remembered a conversation I had with him about a year before on a Sunday after church. As Herb walked out the door he looked at me, lifted up his right hand and using his thumb and pointer finger, told me that he was "This close". I told him that I couldn't wait to witness him finally bridging that little gap.

With that memory in my mind I looked at Herb and asked him if he was still "This close". He smiled and told me that he was there. He said, "I am ready to go to sleep". I then asked him if he wanted to be baptized and he said "Yes". Nina went into the kitchen, got a bowl of water and some paper towels and we had a double baptism - Herb and Nina right there in the bed.

God certainly has a way to break up the mundane and what a blessing it is to be present when the Holy Spirit moves in such a simple yet profound way. I praise God for Herb and Nina and I am praying that Herb goes to sleep and that Nina is strengthened in this time of loss.

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