Seminary graduate N.C. Harrison reflects on the emotions engendered by his god-daughter’s recent baptism.
January 6th was Epiphany, marking either the visit of the Magi to a young Jesus or the occasion of a somewhat older Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River but in both cases His manifestation to the Gentile world. It also hailed, in my family, the baptisms of three young relatives. In an extra special sense, for me, it marked this special day for my god-daughter.
I don’t want to sound biased, here—all of my little cousins are awesome kids—but my god-daughter is three and a half feet of impish, apple-cheeked trouble. She has her mother’s bright blue eyes, upturned nose and the irrepressible personality that makes her one of my favorite people in the world. This little bit refers to bacon as “meat candy” and the person who could hear her giggle and not feel better about the world is a person I would not want to encounter. We all met outside the church, four generations gathered outside one of the oldest Episcopal churches in our city, and filed inside.
♦◊♦
The high church rite of baptism is sedate, solemn and involves promises, on the part of both the sponsor and the person being baptized, to renounce the works of Satan and to do his or her best to follow Jesus with a full heart. Although I knew this on an intellectual level, having studied the relevant rites of most Christian denominations during my seminary studies and having witnessed Catholic rites of baptism, confirmation and first communion, it was different enough from my own evangelical background that experiencing it first-hand felt intense in a way I had not expected. During baptisms in evangelical churches the man or woman entering the covenant approaches Adonai alone; it was done here, instead, in community. The tiny little elf standing in a pristine, white dress beside me, her great-aunt and great-uncle—and only a few feet away from her sister and her god-mother, my own sister—had been placed partially into my spiritual care. When she looked up at me with those huge, anime-style eyes, suffused by the glow of a candle she held, representing the light of the gospel, the responsibility moved me. We made sure that the physical flame was duly snuffed, a moment later, because few things are more dangerous in the hands of an energetic eight year old inside a historic wooden church than an open flame.
If I would not model right behavior for her, as Jesus through the Spirit and my mentors (Christian and non-Christian) have done for me, then how would she learn? How would she learn to let her light shine across the world?
|
Out of the many promises made and vows taken by the sponsors and baptized person, in the Episcopal covenant of baptism, two of them strike me especially. One of them, that the baptized person will strive to seek the good in all persons and to love his or her neighbor, reflects the second of Jesus’ two great commandments given in Matthew 22:37:40. This instruction is laid out in plain language, for the modern day, in the next promise wherein the baptized person promises to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of all persons. I hope that I can provide an example, in the way that I live, of a respectful, decent life so that my little charge can learn how to be a good person, to make life easier for others instead of harder, and to stick up for the little guy, the one pushed over the side and made to feel like less of a person, whenever and wherever she can.
♦◊♦
Those of us who are Christians, or many of us at least, believe that Jesus was a sinless man. And yet He still submitted Himself to John’s baptism. He did not do this because it was necessary for Him but rather because He wished for those of us who followed Him to see the right way to do things. If He had not submitted to John’s baptism for the repentance of sins then we might have done the same and remained on our dark roads, unwilling to turn away. It was in this light when the offering plate was passed, collecting money for charitable causes, that I put half of my contribution in for myself and pressed half of my contribution into my charge’s little hand, then guided said hand into the plate. If I would not model right behavior for her, as Jesus through the Spirit and my mentors (Christian and non-Christian) have done for me, then how would she learn? How would she learn to let her light shine across the world?
Although I am not a father yet I already find myself, because I care for my little bean-headed buddy, praying Tina Fey’s “A Mother’s Prayer For Its Daughter,” from Bossypants. The line, “Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, for childhood is short—a Tiger Flower blooming in spring,” almost makes me cry right now, as I listen to her read it in that sardonic, slightly sad voice. So go on, little pal, run and play for as long as you can and let that light shine bright in the midst of a dark world.
But don’t set anything on fire with it other than the world.
Photo–Wikipedia
Christopher, I have never read anything greater than your tribute to our Anna (Butter Bean). Your love for her is so special and was expressed with such feeling and knowledge of our little “imp.”
Thank you so much for being a wonderful part of our family. Much love, Yaya (Dianne’s mother)
Thank you very much… I appreciate that very much. It was a wonderful day and they are all wonderful little guys.
Christopher!! This is delightful! Thank you for such a great detail of such a special day. I, too am a bit biased, but I have no doubt my girls are blessed beyond measure. I am grateful for your guidance to Bean and RaeRae. Much love to you!!
Thank you… I feel very blessed to know such wonderful people as you and all three of your little guys.
N.C. ….. Loved what you wrote. I’m Catholic and I take the Sacrament of Baptism very seriously. So many people, even in my church, choose God parents based upon their fondness of the person and at times ignore the true responsibility of the God parent.
Your niece is truly blessed to have you as her God Father. Her parents chose wisely. God Bless you and your niece.
Thank you… she’s my small cousin but the age difference is so great that the relationship is much more like a niece. In any event yes… the choice of god-parent should definitely reflect who can help to guide the child spiritually, which I hope to do with skill.
NC, and the Spirit of course.
Well, the Spirit is the only thing that guides me after all. I’d be a mess without it.