Maxine sat in church the next day as Mrs. Pearl stepped up to do the announcements. Mrs. Williams had spoken with Mrs. Pearl about Maxine’s decision, and Mrs. Pearl had agreed to announce it.

“Good morning, church family,” Mrs. Pearl smiled from the pulpit.

“Good morning,” came a general murmur from the pews.

After a brief introduction, Mrs. Pearl announced a death, a wedding shower, and, finally, Maxine’s baptism.

“Also,” Mrs. Pearl began, “I would like to announce that a wonderful decision has been made. Maxine Williams has decided to dedicate her life to the Lord.”

There was polite clapping all around Maxine, and her peers stared at her with smiles. She smiled herself.

“The baptism will take place at Lake Sanchez at 4:00 p.m. next Friday, the 12th, for those of you who don’t know,” Mrs. Pearl continued.

“Why aren’t you getting baptized here?” Maxine’s friend whispered from the pew behind her.

Maxine only shrugged. She didn’t feel like explaining.

The service ended, and many people came up and congratulated Maxine. None of them looked very confused. Some of the elderly people even seemed to think it had a touch of beautiful romance to it to be baptized in a rocky lake outside, just like Jesus had.

But when Friday came, Maxine was ready, standing by the lake shore with her grandfather. The congregation had gathered to watch this young lady become baptized, but Maxine could tell that most had been expecting Pastor Whitebrook. What they found was a wizened old man who they hardly knew. By being baptized outside the church by her grandfather, Maxine had jumped the dreaded hurdle.

I’ll become a member when I’m ready, she told herself. Right now, baptism is something different.

“Is this proper?” Mrs. Ebony asked Mrs. Williams quietly.

“My father was ordained,” Mrs. Williams shrugged, “and that’s conventional enough.”

Maxine’s baptism verse, 1 Timothy 4:12, was displayed on a TV screen her father had set up: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

“Maxine,” Maxine’s grandfather said, making eye contact as they waded into the water, “you’ve made the decision to follow your Lord no matter where you go, where He leads you, or what situations you find yourself in. It won’t always be easy, and my prayer for you is that God gives you the strength to stay true to your commitment and, most importantly, to Him. And now I baptize you…”

Maxine’s heart pounded and her eyes filled with tears as her grandpa’s strong arm wrapped itself around her waist and his hand reached to the sky.

Lord, she prayed silently, help what Grandpa’s saying to come true. Thank you for helping me figure this out. I, I really have nothing more to say.

Maxine’s “amen” never came, and she never wanted to say “amen” again in her life. She never wanted to end the prayer. She felt her body tip, and the water enveloped her for a moment. Nothing felt different when she came up, but Maxine knew she would be different. She’d promised herself that a week ago. And now everyone else knew it too.

I can’t truly say that this is the end. For Maxine, it’s a new beginning. So I guess what I should say is…

THE BEGINNING