Baptism is a lifelong practice and a compass for a journey of discipleship that spirals deeper and deeper into the mystery of God. A wise friend returns to these promises every day, making claim on a God who has already claimed her. She keeps a bowl of water on her dining room table. Every morning, she dips her hand in the water and traces the sign of the cross on her forehead. “I want to remind myself of my baptism,” she said. “I spend my days being so many different things to so many different people, I need to remember who I really am at my core: child of God.”
The baptized Christian circles back to her baptism to be refreshed by the promises made there. What are those promises? We are promised the companionship of other siblings in Christ. We are promised forgiveness for all our sins. Most of all, we are promised the love of God, who has been waiting for us to turn around, and in that turning, to be loved.
This message is excerpted from “Coffee!” by Martha E. Stortz in the September 2017 Gather magazine.
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