The Joy of Traveling

One of the gifts of traveling is how it widens our perspective. Traveling with family this week, we had the chance to visit churches that range from medieval stone sanctuaries to modern, light-filled spaces. Despite their differences, there is one feature they all share: the baptismal font. Sometimes it stands at the entrance, sometimes near the chancel—but it is always there.

People from around the world (believers and nonbelievers alike) walk through these churches, drawn by beauty, history, or curiosity. And across traditions and centuries, baptism remains a shared sign. While understandings may vary, what unites these traditions is the conviction that in baptism we are welcomed into the family of Christ—claimed as beloved children of God and called to live as siblings with one another.

I believe that this truth reaches even further. Regardless of our faith tradition—or even our faith itself—we are bound together, because Christ is at work gathering all things together in the fullness of time. (Ephesians 1:10)

This Sunday, as we remember the baptism of Jesus, we will also remember our own. That remembering matters—especially when we disagree, when divisions feel sharp, or when fear tempts us to draw lines. Remember your baptism. Remember that you are beloved by God—and so is everyone else, no matter who they are, where they’ve been, their nationality, or their politics.

May we remember that we are siblings in Christ, and that we are all beloved by our Creator.

See you in church.

Peace, Grace, and Love,

Kevin