Remembering Our Baptisms

I find it refreshing (timely?) that in their wisdom the editors of the Revised (and even just) Common Lectionary put the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord toward the beginning of the calendar year. For those of you who weren't aware, this was the text for yesterday.

At the beginning of the calendar year, with new year's resolutions fresh in our minds, we are reminded of the way that through our baptisms God calls us and names us Beloved. What a way to start the year.

In pondering this I am reminded of a story a photo journalist tells about his first day working for National Geographic Magazine. He was called into his directors office and told, "We only hire the best." A pause. "That includes you. So there is no need to prove yourself." A pause. "Each day I expect you to improve. ... and if I ever catch you proving yourself, you're fired."

Did that make you smile a little? If through our baptism we are already God's beloved, then we have no need to try and strive to find that our prove it. Instead we can grow into that love, we can improve our abilities to share that love, to return that love.

What would happen if each time we showered/bathed we remembered or baptism and gave thanks? Imagine the difference in our own lives by this reminder. Imagine the difference in the lives of others.

Blessed be,
Joel

A Public Baptism

Laura and I arrived at the beach fifteen minutes before Morgan and his folks and grandparents arrived. I decided to scout out the area, while Laura watched for their car. The second of July had folks lighting bottle rockets from the beach. And with a high tide, there wasn’t much beach to be had. I was looking for something private and intimate: a space where we could be reminded of they Holy. What was left of the beach was crowded.

Morgan and his family arrived. We chatted a bit, and went down to the beach. Right at the beach entrance, where moments before two couples sat in lawn chairs, was an opening. Already wearing my clerical collar, I added my stole and we proceeded with the rite of baptism. The bottle rockets stopped. Morgan’s grandmother read two Bible passages, we prayed, blessed the water, and we were reminded of the ways God has already and will continue to bless and love Morgan. We asked that we remember the ways that Morgan will continue to bless us.

As we were finishing by taking some pictures, a woman sitting off to the side commented, “That was a baptism, right? Cool!” and turned to chat with her friend.

I was once again amazed at the generosity of people, especially when they sense that something holy is taking place.

May you be amazed at the Holy around you.

Joel