On the Riverbank

To be a passerby, a witness, a disciple of John
on that day, that wondrous day
when the babe, the carpenter
was baptized by the one crying in the wilderness
when the one for whom he proclaimed the coming
was anointed king, the blessed one
blessed by God, the spirit descending like a dove
To witness the holy moment
to see the sky part, the heavens open
to see the spirit fall upon him
Lift him up out of the water
out of the humanness, to wrap around him
to anoint and grace him,
to steel him for the journey,
the tempting, the trials,
the ministry to come
Oh to have been at the riverbank
that glorious day

January 11, 2008
Matthew 3:13-17