Cold water can wake you up, but grace wakes you for good. We start with a laugh about polar plunges and cinnamon-roll fishing, then wade into why Jesus’ baptism still matters when the world feels torn down the middle. I share what baptism means in our tradition—cleansing, commitment, initiation into community, and the public celebration of God’s unearned grace—and ask a harder question: what does it mean to take those vows in a culture pulled apart by outrage, algorithms, and fear?
Together we look at Jesus stepping into the water as God’s choice to be fully with us. That nearness changes everything. If God sees our shadow side and still beholds creation as a beloved community, then discipleship becomes training our eyes to notice abundance where fracture screams for our attention. I draw on voices like Richard Rohr and Diana Butler Bass to frame a practice of epiphany: stay alert to signs of mercy, follow the “stars” who point toward peace, and refuse to be discipled by division.
This conversation gets practical. I invite you to join me in a simple daily rhythm with the Center for Action and Contemplation’s devotion, “Good News for a Fractured World.” It’s a way to ground our attention, strengthen hopeful habits, and live our baptism in public—speaking gently, listening bravely, choosing repair over victory. If you’re longing for a faith that meets the moment with courage and tenderness, this one’s for you.
Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find the show. What star are you choosing to follow this year?
