Take Me to the Water

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 8:56 pm by Amy Butler

Take Me to the Water 2015-10-14T20:56:17-04:00 Amy Butler

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I confess I was a little dubious. Ambivalent. Okay, actually kind of filled with trepidation.

I mean, I know it is part of my job and everything, but I’m not much of a river rat myself. I can handle baptisms in the calm, warm waters of our church baptistery, but Zach really, really wanted to be baptized at our church camp that sits on the banks of the Potomac River.

Do you know what sorts of germs are in the water of the Potomac River? If you don’t, believe me, you definitely do not want to know. Forget the germs . . . there are also strange life forms in the Potomac, animals that I would prefer to view from behind glass walls in an aquarium, if you know what I mean. (Ever heard of the northern snakehead fish? Yeah, I wish I hadn’t either.)

But Zach loves the outdoors, and for him, taking this step of faith in the river was really important. So, last Saturday about 50 of us trudged down the hill from camp to the banks of the Potomac River. We slogged through some mud and climbed over branches to get down there, about a 30 minute hike each way.

When we got to the river I confess one of my main concerns was finding a place to change. I wore my bathing suit but sincerely hoped for a large tree behind which I could don the white robe I carried down to the river. Alas, there were no trees. (I am currently considering opening discussions of hardship pay with the trustees, as appearing in my bathing suit in front of a large part of the congregation seems an excessive professional requirement.)

Once we got in our robes and hiked down the hill to the river banks, that’s when I remembered (again) the utter joy of doing this job. Voices swelled as we sang Shall We Gather at the River, we crowded around for a prayer, and then we heard Zach’s story of faith.

He told about an urgency deep within his heart to find God. He talked about pain that pushed him to reevaluate his life, and then he talked about the community of Christ at Calvary, mentioning the names of the many who had taken him by the hand and helped him find life-giving relationship with God.

I started to think it was all worth it when I heard him talk, but the best was still ahead.

Zach and I both took deep breaths and waded into the water. Funny, it wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be. It wasn’t crystal clear, but neither was it dirty. I didn’t see any snakes, spiders or northern snakeheads at all! In fact, what I felt most deeply was the caress of the sun, surely there to remind us of the presence of God, the steady pressure of Zach’s hand as we walked out together and the energy of the group on the riverbank . . . joy, expectation and gladness floating out over the water like a blessing.

The current was rushing pretty fast and it was hard to stay upright, but we managed to say the words of institution and get Zach all the way under.

And when he came up dripping we waded into shore to the sounds of Amens, sung over and over. Then there were prayers, and pictures, hugs and words of blessing . . . even a few tears.

I’ve reflected since that experience that, if it were left up to me, I’d probably have voted to stay out of the river altogether. Thank goodness that God comes to us all in different ways and invites us each to express our faith individually, thank goodness that Zach felt so compelled to share his baptism with us in the Potomac River . . . because it was in wading out into the river that I remembered once again what holy honor it is to do my job; that I have the incredible opportunity to stand on the sidelines at all of these incredibly amazing moments, to say the words of faith and to hold the hands of those wading into the water of relationship with God.

I never thought I’d be saying this, but I can’t wait to get back in the river to baptize the next new believer who wants to boldly proclaim her faith in Jesus Christ. Northern snakeheads or no, I’ve been converted. Take me to the water!

Answering the Call

Being the Church

Previous Post

June 9, 2006

The Long Hall Home

Next Post

June 15, 2006 Stories That Almost Make Me Cry

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Answering the Call Being the Church Curating Wisdom Laughing Out Loud Living in Relationship Practicing Discipleship Reclaiming Baptist Speaking from the Pulpit Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005

Search for:

Take Me to the Water

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

According to Hebrews, who serves as a copy and shadow of what is in heaven?