Baptism of Freedom

The sun climbed high, scattering warmth across the forest and the sparkling surface of the river ahead. James and Luke approached the water’s edge, their pace unhurried as the gentle gurgle of the current beckoned them. Neither had spoken much since leaving camp that morning. There was no need. The tranquility of their surroundings spoke louder than words.

James knelt to touch the cool water, watching ripples fan out across the surface. He stood and began to peel off his shirt, the sunlight catching on the faded scars and sinew of his back—marks that told a story of battles both physical and spiritual. Luke followed suit, discarding his clothes with casual ease. They both stood there for a moment, bare and unguarded, their presence in each other’s company as natural as the trees swaying gently around them.

Luke broke the stillness with a grin. “You’re gonna make me race you, aren’t you?”

James chuckled, shaking his head. “Nah, I’d win too easily.”

“Oh, you think so?” Luke lunged toward the water, splashing in with a loud whoop. James laughed and followed, the cold current seizing his breath before his body adjusted. They swam out to the deeper middle stretch, where the water flowed slower, languid and clear.

Floating on his back, James gazed up at the sky. The vast blueness seemed endless, a mirror to the freedom he felt coursing through him. He hadn’t realized how heavy life had been until moments like this—moments when everything fell away, leaving only presence and peace.

Luke surfaced beside him, shaking droplets from his hair. “Feels like a reset,” he murmured. “Like God just… washes everything away out here.”

James nodded. “Yeah. Like a baptism.” He let his arms drift out wide in the water, surrendering to its gentle embrace. “It’s hard to explain, but this—being out here, no walls, no noise—makes me feel closer to God than anything else.”

Luke floated beside him, silent for a moment as he took it in. “I think it’s because there’s nothing to hide behind. Just us, how God made us. No distractions.” He glanced over at James. “I never imagined I’d be able to feel this… free. Especially not with another man.”

James turned his head to meet Luke’s eyes. There was a subtle charge between them, unspoken but understood. It wasn’t fear or tension, but something deeper—a recognition of their shared trust and vulnerability. The water seemed to cradle them both in that sacred space.

“It’s rare,” James said softly. “But it’s good. We don’t have to be afraid of it.”

Luke smiled, letting the words sink in. He closed his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath, submerging again. When he surfaced, he wiped water from his face and laughed quietly. “I think I’m gonna miss this place.”

“Me too,” James agreed. “But we’ll take it with us. This peace, this connection—we’re meant to carry it forward.”

They swam for a while longer, diving under the surface, racing each other in playful bursts, their laughter blending with the music of the river. Eventually, they returned to the shore, lying on the sun-warmed rocks to dry. Their breathing slowed, syncing with the steady rhythm of the flowing water nearby.

“We’ll be heading back soon,” James said, breaking the peaceful quiet.

“Yeah,” Luke replied, eyes half-closed as he soaked in the sun. “Back to life, back to the guys we’re mentoring. I feel ready, though. Like God’s given us everything we need to face it.”

James reached over and clasped Luke’s hand briefly, a quiet affirmation of everything they had spoken and experienced over the past few days.

“We’ve got each other,” James said.

“And God’s got us,” Luke added.

They remained there for a while longer, letting the simplicity of the moment anchor them. When they finally stood and gathered their clothes, the weight of responsibility no longer felt daunting. They had been renewed—by nature, by God, and by the bond that held them together.

(Chapter from the third installment of the James and Luke series. Contact me if you’d like to read the full story or series.)