Jesse The Pool Guy Cleanses Sins for Spiritual Growth

Jesse the Pool Guy

Chapter 2

By Bob Deakin

Jesse the pool guy cleanses sins. Look at him. He’s got the Ford Ranger, overalls, and the attitude. He handles any customer, any time, any denomination.

Tuesday, he found himself servicing the pool of a church and school campus. He arrived early to find a small congregation gathering outside the pool area for a baptism. He exchanges waves as he enters the gate.

Is That Holy Water?

“Can we use the pool for a moment?” someone from the congregation calls. “I know it’s a strange request, but the water looks so pretty.”

The consummate professional, Jesse knows he can’t allow someone inside the locked gate, but the man appears to be the religious leader.

“How are you. I’m Pete Preston, paster of the congregation. What’s your name?”

“I’m Jesse. I work for Smart Pools.”

“We were supposed to perform a baptism in the church baptistry, but it’s under repair,” Pastor Preston explains with a broad smile. “Would you allow us to use the pool? I promise, in God’s name, it won’t take long.”

Jesse’s First Baptism

“I suppose it’s okay since you’re the pastor. Promise you won’t let anyone know I let you in?”

“From my lips to God’s ears.”

They both smile. Jesse is hesitant, but all seems kosher. The congregation of six adults walks in and stands near the shallow end. 

Jesse takes a water test. The filter basket is filled with dead frogs, spiders, toys, bandages, and a black, tar-like substance. The pH is unusually high, too, but Jesse doesn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. He gives Paster Pete the thumbs up. 

“Jesse’s given us our blessing!” the pastor exclaims with a smile and a chuckle as the others join in. 

Jesse’s feeling it. He’s never commanded such power.

In the Name of the Father…

The middle-aged female baptismal candidate is led down the pool stairs and dipped into the water by the pastor.  

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

All smile as she steps out, dripping wet and overjoyed with the “washing away” of her old self and commencing a new spiritual journey.

The ceremony pauses as the pastor heads toward Jesse with another request.

“Say, Jesse. To complete the baptism, I must cleanse the sins of the candidate and pour the Holy Spirit upon the believer,” he says, pointing to the plastic jug Jesse holds. “Would you be willing to lend me some o’ that fresh water you got in your pail?”

Jesse Answers His Calling

Jesse looks down at the jug of muriatic acid he holds, then back to Pastor Pete. For a split second, he can’t help imagining the pastor using it and the subsequent reaction.

“I got a bottle of water in my bag,” Jesse quips. “This is a little acidic.”

He retrieves a bottle of spring water and hands it to the pastor, who pours it into a ceremonial chalice and blesses it. He then pours it over the woman’s head, says a prayer, and comforts her. The fresh water helps relieve her burning eyes as they wrap up the ceremony. 

We Don’t Swim in Your Toilet

Jesse takes note that it may be necessary to shock the pool. He often sees dozens of children in the pool and has a sneaky suspicion they may be relieving themselves, propagating chloramines. 

He doesn’t let on to Pastor Pete.

“Jesse, you’ve been a blessing to us, and God is smiling down on you.”

“My blessings to you all,” Jesse warmly replies, enthusiastically gesturing toward the pool shower a few feet away.

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