Day 29: Water

In a lot of ways the water feels like home to me - I've spent a good chunk of my life here at the Cameron Pool at Beach Middle School!  I took quite a hiatus from swimming, it feels so good to get back into it - not only because it's a great workout, but also because of the camaraderie that comes with getting through a workout together.  I love that it's bringing me together with a lot of different people - friends, family, and even complete strangers have become swimming buddies over the past few weeks :-)

In Christianity, water brings believers together and closer to God; it symbolizes the washing away of sin, the rebirth in faith, and the commitment to following Jesus' teachings.  Even though I was baptized years ago I still struggle with my past sins - they creep into my mind from time to time and the guilt and pain lingers.  I try to remind myself of how it felt when I came out of the water - the sense of relief that had washed over me, knowing that I was putting the past behind me and committing myself to becoming a better person from that moment on.  It's been a long and bumpy road, and I've definitely faltered along the way, but I know that I have changed for the better - and people around me can see that I have changed.  As hard as it is to forgive others, sometimes it can be even more difficult to forgive ourselves.

^{Romans 6}

^{3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.}