Renewing your baptism...

When I get to go to a church of my choice in Louisville I get pretty excited. I think about all the options and where I could go, and then don't end up making my decision until I leave the parking lot. Often the decision has a lot to do with 1. how many people will I see that I know? (Which usually makes or breaks it as I like to go places I don't see the people I see every day)...2. what time it starts and if I'm ready by 10:15, because that usually means I can go to any church I want...or 3. Is it the same as every church I ever go to, or am I leaving my comfort zone? The latter is bueno.

Well this morning I ended up returning to a church I visited once last year, remembering that it reminded me just a small bit like my home & Miami churches and that I enjoyed it. I walked in, opened the bulletin, and was told that it was Renewing Your Baptism Sunday. YES! I love Baptism! Anne Lammot has a great quote that goes a little something like this:

"Because Christianity is about water: ‘Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.’ Most of what we do in worldly life is geared toward our staying dry, looking good, not going under. But in baptism, in lakes and rain and tanks and fonts, you agree to do something that's a little sloppy because at the same time it's also holy, and absurd. It's about surrender, giving in to all those things we can't control; it's a willingness to let go of balance and decorum and get drenched." -Anne Lamott

I love it! On Thursday I was leaving the InterFaith Center and it was raining, which someone reminded me of while offering me a ride to my car. It's raining! I said. I love rain, it reminds me of baptism! Ok, by now you're realizing that I am a huge nerd. Go ahead, make the assumption, I accepted it long ago with open arms. But what isn't beautiful about Baptism? Many churches you walk into you can't even locate the baptismal fount. This church this morning wanted to discuss the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and when we left we were encouraged to dip our hands in the water while remembering our baptism. Beautiful! When we are baptized (in my tradition usually as babies, but we also baptize adults) the whole community comes together in unifying love saying "I support you and will promise to lift you up through all your days and guide you through your life in Christ". What could be more special than that? It is the work of Christ through other people and the love that they share with you.

Whew. I can imagine my church the day of my baptism, all the people that I have grown up being close with, spending family time with, going to youth group and mission trips with, and the people who said yes and didn't doubt my sense of call towards ministry. It blows my mind that a group of people can come together over each other for this purpose.