Barbie Loflin

I have never been the type to wade gently into the water looking all graceful and dignified.

I am more the run-jump-hold-your-nose-plunge-splash kind of girl.I always thought the others looked pretty, but knew they could not possibly be having nearly as much fun as I was.After all, while they were standing ankle deep in tepid salt water, the waves splashing gently around their ankles, I was soaked, sputtering, coughing like crazy, and had sea weed in my teeth… Ah, the bliss.Your eyes stung, every scrape (and I had plenty) came alive with the fire of painful cleansing, and your feet sank into things best left undiscovered.

My sisters all thought I was nuts (not much has changed, by the way…).They were girl-girls.They had no idea how much fun a starfish could be when stuck to your leg, or how it felt to be thrown from a horse or hit in the face with a basketball.My sisters did not know the thrill of stealing third base, or riding dirt bikes without mom’s permission.They did not know that stars are best viewed at 1:00 am after climbing out your window and onto the roof in your orange high- top converse and night gown.Simple things, really.They could have done any of these things… but no… they liked it safe and organized and all planned out.

I began most mornings looking for socks and homework, while my sisters rolled their eyes and tapped their dainty toes in frustration.

I remember running out the front door one morning, jumping down the front steps and falling very ungracefully at the feet of my embarrassed older sisters.They looked at my mom and asked, “Oh, mother, what are we going to do about Barbie?”

Duh, Hello!I thought.You could help me get up!See, I thought they were asking what they should do at the moment, when in fact it was my whole life that left them scratching their heads and walking many paces ahead of me in public.

I did not fit in.I never have.I have always heard a different drum beat in my spirit. I knew that life was supposed to be a grand adventure, and I did not want to miss a moment of it indoors where the world lost its wondrous beauty.I needed sunshine on my face and cool grass beneath my bare feet.I needed hills to climb and puppies to wrestle. I loved to laugh and I loved to sing at the top of my voice… with only God listening.

I learned at an early age that God created creeks for lonely children with curly red hair, and that dogwood blooms fit perfectly in small hands with dirty fingernails.For, you see, God has always loved me more than I deserved and more extravagantly than I could fathom.

He has always been water to me.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 22:1