Cold

A ripple for every moment

Frigid sky scattered here and there. Shadows watch mountains who are not easily scared. Snowflakes fall as time stands still, while sun's warmth trembles under the treacherous chill. Depths run thin as the ice grows, and blue meets white in the blue shallow. Everything covered perfectly in a blanket, one that is cold and doesn't need to fake it.

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This journal entry has been tagged with:

• Baptism
• God
• Catholicism
• Lutheranism
• Sacrament
• Promise
• Celebration
• Decisions

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I'm quite confident that the majority of people have witnessed a baptism or have been baptized. I was baptized in the Catholic Church. Growing up in the Catholic Church I had the privelege to observe many baptisms. By definition: Baptism is an initiation sacrament which is the beginning of a lifelong commitment to God.

Usually this is how it happens: The parents (and often times god parents) stand up in front of the priest with their baby. The priest asks some questions before subjecting the child to water. The baby is either dipped into the holy water or sprinkled from above. Sometimes you have a tough baby who doesn't cry, but if you are like me... crying was cool. Before you know it, the baby is part of the church and everyone applauds.

I have two points to make about this sacrament:

• The Promise
• The Celebration

The Promise. The most important part of baptism is the application of the holy water. However, I feel there is another part of this sacrament that is just as important and often overlooked. The questions.

Personally, I don't remember my baptism. In that respect, I can't take the vows necessary to complete the initiation rite. Babies don't understand intiation, allegiance, loyalty, or God for that matter. The parents promise to bring their child into a loving relationship with God. The Church community also accepts this responsibility.

As most people know, I am a Catholic who has been attending Lutheran services for the past few years. Recently, my mom spoke to me about my religious commitments. She expressed concern because both my brother and I had strayed away from the Catholic Church. She asked that I simply make a choice, a choice of following either the path of Lutheranism or Catholicism.

I could tell she was upset. She wasn't upset that I attended Lutheran services. She was upset because she made a promise when I was younger, and now that promise feels broken. However, I am in a loving relationship with God... but not by a Catholic path. I guess that is where my decision comes in handy to which I still haven't made up my mind.

The Celebration. When I was younger, I applauded like everyone else. Applause by itself doesn't seem to do this sacrament justice. People should cheer and erupt like spectators at a sports game. Moments in sports history only last a second, our time in Heaven will be forever. There is nothing better than a baby entering into the loving arms of God. We should be estatic knowing that heaven is waiting for us, but often times this feelings get lost in other wordly things.

Now ends my little reflection on a well-recognized religious sacrament. Hopefully it opened some ears and focused some hearts.

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