A decade later.

The weekend that has just been and gone, was probably like most other weekends for most, I suspect. The trip to the pub, the evening of watching X Factor, partying, running errands and trying to catch some downtime between the end of one week at work and the start of another. 

For me it marked the first anniversary of becoming a Dad (and therefore the first birthday of my son). But it also marked something that some (and I am one of that number) would consider far more significant. This weekend exactly a decade ago, I walked down into the waters of the baptism pool, in front of friends, family and various others, and declared publicly that I thought Jesus' message was totally legit and absolutely worth surrendering my life to. The single greatest decision I have ever made. 

At the end of the first Gospel, the book of Matthew, Jesus makes a very bold and clear statement: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

I am eternally grateful to the people who had listened to this command before I had and who sought me out when I wasn't a believer - speaking to me, praying for me and loving me enough to help me realise that this message wasn't just some fairytale or unattainable riddle to go through life confused by. A decade later, I am totally and utterly convinced that it's still so, so true (even more so than I did on that first day of belief). It has been a decade of incredible grace and shaping by the Creator who made me in the first place. A decade of both hard lessons and complete awestruck wonder. But the further down the road I walk, the more I realise He was being honest when He assured us that He'd always be with us, to the very end.

It's the most amazing adventure to put your belief in Jesus, to get baptised and then to go out and tell others about this truth, so that they can put their belief in Jesus, get baptised and go out and tell others about this truth. Over and over and over and over again. I don't think there's a greater purpose in life. 

Here's to the next ten years.