Mikvah in the Gorge

Last night we had a bridal shower for Heather. It started off with a trip down to Lyn Valley Canyon for a 'Mikvah' (a kind of a baptism from Jewish bridal tradition). The bride and some close friends from the community (all women) go down to the water as a physical sign of being cleansed from past sins. Then she goes into the water (glacier water, I might add....BURRRRRRR!) and dunks herself three times to remove all the impurities from her life. She returns from the water, a pure, spotless bride.
It was really interesting doing this hugely significant act in a hugely public place, complete with strangers and their dogs splashing around us as we're praying...it kind of felt like we were standing with Jesus and John near the Jordan River. As Heather came out of the water, we were clapping and praising the Lord, and some of the onlookers started clapping too! (Very cool, and very Kingdom, I thought.) Oh, and Heather was radiant, of course! Praise be to the Lamb, who takes awy the sins of the world!
Grace.
Aurora