Frozen Baptism…

I have truly been blessed. A friend of mine, Austin Gage, contacted me in November about a movie he was filming.

I was excited about working with Austin again. We first met several years ago as he was graduating from UC and needed help with his senior film project. He was great to work with then and it was a pleasure to work with him now.

He said he had a perfect role - as Pastor. In reading the script, it called for me to baptize his character. He made reference to renting an airbnb for part of the filming and I was imagining the baptism would occur in the bath tub.

About a week before filming he said we should meet at Caesar Creek Lake. That was a curious choice. He said he want a full immersion baptism. Now I was really curious.

I dressed appropriately for wading into the lake. When we arrived, there was ice surrounding the shoreline.

We walked into the lake almost thigh high. The plan was to go half way, say the lines. The second step was to be immersion. I did not have the heart to put him all the way down and got half way.

The third time he was fully submersed. As his head went under the water, his eyes went wide. I have never seen someone jump up so fast and run out of the water. He grab the blanket I brought and headed to the cars.

I waded out. I really was not that cold, just very wet.

We went to the airbnb and dried off - however - we never quite warmed up.

The things we do for friends.

I love that guy and cannot wait to see the final product.