Baptism Memories ...

I'm in the process of reading Tomson Highway's novel "Kiss of the Fur Queen" (a review and recommendation WILL follow when I'm done), and yesterday I read a tiny piece about the Baptism of Ooneemeetoo Okimasis by the old priest ... Highway wrote:

The priest dipped his free hand into a hollow place at the top of the pedestal of shining wood. His hand emerged with a handful of water, which he held over the baby's face, apparently intending to give it a good scrub.

Something about those two lines struck me funny ... perhaps it was is because it comes from the perspective of the older brother, who being unfamiliar with the supposed solemnity of the occasion saw the mundane in the face of the sacred, and spoke accordingly ... After all, what is Baptism but a good scrub??

But as I read Tomson's words I thought of other literary references to Baptism that I've encountered in the past. Encounters that cause me to smile at the incomprehensibility that arises when a slight shift in perspective is undertaken, and the sacred office of Baptism is viewed from the outside. These are not moments like Archie Bunker baptizing Baby Joey in "All in the Family" - an action I whole heartily support along with Archie's understanding that the "Lowd" needs to take special care of these little ones. Rather these are moments that should challenge all us to understand Baptism not as a moment of hocus-pocus, but a celebration of Life's fullness before God and one another ...

The first reading came in a collection of Icelandic laws, where in it was noted in the 11th Century that if a Candidate for Baptism dies following the traditional Icelandic Baptism (rolling the penitent in snow!!!), the presiding priest will NOT be held liable for the death. It was duly noted by the law makers that such a death following Baptism is to be regarded as a gift from God rather than murder !!! To that I breath a "Phew!!" ... not that I would advocate Baptism in snow banks ...

And the second reading comes from Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible" wherein the missionary father in the book is approached by the chief of the African Village where he is living our his ministry. The Chief asks that the Missionary stop baptizing the people down in the river. The affronted Missionary then launches into a long winded, self indulgent, very self righteous explanation about the NECESSITY of performing these baptisms to ensure the people are not condemned to the deepest darkest corners of Hell for being unsaved ... The chief listens patiently then says frankly - "It's nothing like that ... there are crocodiles in that River and THEY eat people ... Stop baptizing THERE !!"

Sometimes it's ALL a matter of perspective ... taking a step back and seeing the BIG picture is seldom a bad thing ...

I remember many of the Baptisms I've performed ... and I remember vividly the Baptism of my children ... each service is meaningful, not because we've "SAVED" a soul, but because as a community of family and or faith, we've stood before God and affirmed a simple eternal truth that EVERY child is a unique creation of God ... and as such is worthy of love, and in that moment when water is taken in hand, it is about affirming that love, not giving them a good scrub ... But it never hurts to pause periodically and remember why we do it ...