I had a proper baptism
Enshrined in liturgy,
Sprinkled with holy water
From a fixed baptismal font.
Head full of soft, sweet curls
And all I knew of God
Was you could ask him for your wishes;
He’d make you nice and good.
Now my head is full of tangles
And all I know of God
Is He doesn’t make you nice or good;
But He will make you well.
And if I had it to do over
I’d have a proper baptism,
Knocked under by wild waves,
Come up holy from the salt.
***
Please don’t mistake my brief thoughts here as a statement condemning or favoring any particular school of thought on baptism. I am simply suggesting that proper baptism is a reflection of the relationship between a Christian and God, however that might be made manifest.
Stunning. But you already knew that.
Gracious. Thank you.
Oh darlin’. This takes my breath away. You just knocked me under with waves with your words.
I’m humbled, my friend.
I’m so wanting to talk with you! Ahhhhhhhh! I’m around all day tomorrow!
my husband once told me what he thought about going under and coming up – that the sound of the one emerging was like a baby’s first breath. A new life beginning. I’d like that on a regular basis, please.
Ah, that’s incredible– new breath, new life.
I really like the imagery here. I think your on to something with being knocked around in baptism.
And all I know of God
Is He doesn’t make you nice or good;
But He will make you well.
beautiful – so glad to stumble and splash onto your writing today!
Thank you, Michelle.
I love this part… it speaks to my heart this week…
I’m grateful my words reached you, Sarah. May you be well and be made well this week.
Beautiful. I wish we lived in a world in which your experience could stand on its own, where you didn’t have to include a disclaimer. I guess some will read your words through their lens and see irreverence or take offense. Too bad.
Thanks, Lee. I think it could have gone without the note, but I’ve been here long enough to spot unnecessary hazards.
Yes. Amen. And yes. And amen.
Thank you, Renee.
I love this so much!
Thanks, Marilyn.
Good stuff. I was baptized twice, once as an infant with the sprinkled holy water, and later as a young adult in the ocean. Even then, my head was full of tangles, and I’ve certainly been knocked on my butt by life’s waves a time or two.
Crazy how things don’t go as we expect, but God redeems along the way. Even John the Baptist, who told people “Look! the lamb of God!” found himself dazed and confused, sending his disciples to ask Jesus, “are you really the One?” when he was imprisoned waiting to die.
Jesus’ response? The lame walk, the blind see, etc…. Ain’t no fun being lame, but its sure a blessing when Jesus helps us walk again.
Yes. Amen.
“But he will make you well.”
Yes.
He promises. xo
I love ‘holy from the salt’. Dramatic yet effective. God purifies without tidying.
Thanks, friend.
Go for it – why not do it again? Let Him bowl you over with His might power and love and renew you again, and again, and again.<3
Well, I suppose I could. We say “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins,” but we don’t say anything about multiple baptisms for the hell of it.
But I think maybe baptism comes in waves we can’t find even at the ocean, comes without our arranging for special church events, comes unexpectedly, comes full of grace and mercy.
The words I cherish most from the baptism liturgy is “you are marked as Christ’s own forever”. That line just gets me choked up every time I witness a baptism. I am so thankful for that promise.
YES. Yes. And I’ve offered baptism in all its forms – little ones, brought by their loving parents, heads still damp from heaven made damper in the sacrament; older ones, dunked down in a pool or the ocean, raised up to new life. But no matter the form, the meaning is the same – we are marked. We share in both death and resurrection. We are safe…which you call ‘well’ and I say amen. Thank you for this beauty. Thank you.
Love this. He will make us well, even if it takes longer than we’d like for the healing to happen.
I love how words can describe experience… and thoughts… and hopes…
love this! and the pictures that go with it
All part of the “reckless raging fury that they call the Love of God.”
Awesome.
I was just afforded the opportunity to baptize my daughter. It did reflect her relationship with her God. What a gift. http://www.ramblingbarba.com/privileged-life/
What makes baptism special is that God is doing the work saving (1 Peter 3:21), forgiving sins (Acts 2:38-39), bringing new life (Romans 6:3-5), giving the Spirit (Acts 2:38-39)… All good stuff.