Summit Stories

  21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21-22 Jesus was praying in the middle of His baptism. I wonder how many people are praying as they are being baptized? Mostly it is a time of public celebration of being part of the church and gratitude for what Jesus has done in their lives. I suppose that is a kind of prayer, but I think prayer meant something to Jesus that I have some difficulty grasping. He seemed to be always in touch with the Father, so that He and the Father were always acting as one. There was a love between them that I can get to only partially. There was a relational belonging in the Fathers acknowledgement that Jesus was His Son. There was the affirmation of His love and His pleasure bestowed on the Son. The third part of the trinity des

  PERSEVERANCE…2.0 Two perspectives of perseverance…the photo to the left is of a baby snapdragon plant growing in the crack of our window box.   I  planted snapdragons there…about 4 years ago! The seeds were buried but still alive… and started growing this summer! What perseverance these seeds have!       The photo below is also a story of perseverance…that of a fleabane ‘weed’, on the steps of a local retreat center our church is meeting at, until schools are open again! What a harsh growing environment… only rain water, little protection despite groups of humans stepping over it daily…and still it grows! I thought of how/where/when…I have persevered. That is….how I have made it through tough times, difficulties…only to ‘grow’ anyways. Only to ‘bloom’ despite tough conditions. More than ever…I have realized I actually ‘grow better’ despite tough circumstances. I SNAP  PHOTOS OF PERSEVERANCE..as often as I see them.  I think they are ‘pictures’ of encouragement to me. GROW ON…. DESPIT