Journal of John Bouc

I know it’s been a while since my last submission.  Some of that has been technichnal challenges and some has been my juggling of priorities.  Nonetheless,  the following is an article that I recently wrote for the newsletter at the high school where I work.  I hope you find it worth your time!

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If you can spare a minute, then put your feet up, and take a mental journey with me to one of our recent retreats.  Our junior class, through four separate groups, makes a trip down to Camp Ondessonk, nestled deep in the rich natural beauty of the Shawnee Forest in southern Illinois.  On this particular retreat after lunch the first day, we made our way to a familiar canyon which was immaculately painted with lush shades of amber and brown leaves while an elaborate tumble of giant rocks was teaming with the waters from a recent rain.  Before I could make it to the top of the pouring waters, one by one our students were jumping in despite the cold murky water, and somehow, it became MY turn.

I sat on the edge of a slippery “slide” of a stone staring into the dark and churning pool when I pushed off!  All at once I was under the dark and freezing water, shivering and clambering to get out.  Just then, someone reached their hand to help me while a group gathered around began to clap and cheer for reasons I couldn’t understand.  I was soaked, freezing… and never felt better!

Perhaps… it was because I had just completed my initiation into this motley group of mud-water-soaked crazy people.  Nonetheless, somehow, I took a small risk, as they did, to emerge, not alone, but in some way as one of them.

I stood up and looked around at this interesting spectacle of people, nature and God at play together and it made me think about my Baptism.  Yes, Baptism.  We are called forward by people who care about us to become one with them through Christ, members in the Church.  We take a plunge into water, water which is a source of life and source of disaster.  We emerge, somehow changed, not alone, but embraced by the people around us. 

We as Christians choose to submit ourselves to the murky waters of life time and time again.  We dive in, not alone, but with our fellow Christians and especially with Jesus.  Again and again, we reemerge refreshed with newness of life in Christ.  While our own Baptismal water may not have been so chilly or dark, is there really any guarantee that our life will be any clearer or easier? 

Perhaps not today, perhaps not tomorrow, but sooner or later, every person on earth must dive again into the tumultuous waters of our life.  Some do it alone. Some do it trusting only in themselves.  You and I, as followers of Christ face each plunge as a Baptized community, not alone but with each other, not without faith but with every confidence in Christ. 

Finally, our ultimate Baptismal plunge will be the end of our earthly life.  What “waters” could be more mysterious or uncertain?  When that day comes, we will reemerge from the dark waters of sin, fear, and doubt into the brilliance and the glory of Heaven.