Remember Your Baptism

Why are particular shells washed up on the beach in abundance one day & the next day can’t be found? Are there shell-specific gardens on the bottom of the sea that produce a wealth of olives or augers or conches or scallops that then get disturbed by an underwater storm & washed to shore? During my walk yesterday, I found the most beautiful black scalloped shells – I picked up at least 50 of them – from the size of my pinkie fingernail to the size of my palm. I’ve always loved the delicacy & simple elegance of the scallop. An effortless down-to-earth beauty like the beloved daisy. Unpretentious & uncomplicated perfection. As I stooped to gather more of God’s amazing handiwork, I thought of my baptism and the baptism of my faith tradition.

Ancient catacombs and ruins associated with early Christians contain artwork of John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus in baptism. In other artwork, John is depicted baptizing Christ with water poured from a scallop shell. So, the shell has come to represent the visible act of God’s love, found in baptism. In our baptism, God freely offers his grace & lovingly establishes a new community. It is in Baptism that people become members of Christ’s Body on earth, the Church.

Later that evening at an unlikely place, I was reminded of this precious gift that my children have been given. While playing mini-golf at Mt. Atlanticus, an elaborately crafted mini-golf extravaganza, my son Zachary excitedly called me over while we waited our turn. The sign said: Fountain of Youth – dip in your fingers & touch your forehead. Then a look of concern crossed his countenance. “What is it?” I asked. “Isn’t that kinda like mocking God?” he wondered. He was referring to the practice of dipping your fingers into the baptismal font & tracing the sign of the cross on your forehead as you remember that you are God’s child, baptized into Christ’s Body on earth, the Church.

We had a such a good day – thank you God for your precious gift of faith.