In her book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dilliard opens a chapter with this story:
“When I was six or seven years old, growing up in Pittsburgh, I used to take a precious penny of my own and hide it for someone else to find. It was a curious compulsion; sadly, I’ve never been seized by it since. For some reason I always ‘hid’ the penny along the same stretch of sidewalk up the street. I would cradle it at the roots of a sycamore, say, or in a hole left by a chipped-off piece of sidewalk. Then I would take a piece of chalk, and, starting at either end of the block, draw huge arrows leading up to the penny from both directions. After I learned to write, I labelled the arrows: SURPRISE AHEAD or MONEY THIS WAY. I was greatly excited, during all this arrow-drawing, at the thought of the first lucky passer- by who would receive in this way, regardless of merit, a free gift from the universe. But I never lurked about. I would go straight home and not give the matter another thought, until, some months later, I would be gripped again by the impulse to hide another penny. “
God, in a similar fashion, has, for centuries, been trying to help us discover the free gift of grace. As Annie Dilliard did, God has been drawing lines to the gift. Regardless of our merit, God seems to have this impulse to save us.
Moses and the prophets were the first to offer the pathway to God, through the law. For the past two millennia, God’s lines have been clearly drawn through Jesus, the Christ.
Today, we observe the baptism of Christ. As we remember his baptism, the lines to grace become clearer. In Acts, we read of the importance of the church. Genesis says God’s Holy Spirit has been active since creation. And in Mark, we recall the act of Jesus’ baptism, and the claim Jesus understood that God had on his life.
In Ephesus, Paul discovered twelve disciples who had not been baptised “in Christ.” They had received the baptism of repentance of John the Baptist, but they had not received the Holy Spirit by being baptised in Christ. Acts draws the lines of grace clearly. The line from John the Baptist points to Jesus. He is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit. Only through Jesus can we experience the “power” of the Holy Spirit.....the power of God. The story emphasises the corporate nature of salvation. It is the Body of Christ, the church, that continues the line to grace. We cannot be “In Christ,” without being in the Body of Christ. Upon baptism, we are recognising the baptised as a member of the “family of God.” It is an adoption, not a choice. The action is God’s, not ours. It is the responsibility of the church to “go” and baptise in the name of Jesus Christ. The lines are clear.
Baptism, however, does not guarantee our life will be without strife. On the contrary. Jesus’ life was far from perfect following baptism. In fact, the turmoil was just beginning. What it does mean, though, is that our anchor will always be God. God, through Christ, will be the calm in the storms of life.
The story of creation is an example of the role of the Holy Spirit in chaos. In the beginning, God brought forth order out of chaos. Interestingly, the chaos was water, and that which brought order was God’s “wind” or the Spirit. These are the same two elements of baptism.
For centuries, we have been trying to understand the coexistence of good and evil. Recently, some are beginning to understand they may not be opposites. Their creative tension may be necessary.
One of my reading books in training was on the chaos theory. Chaos theory uses higher order mathematics to study ever-changing and complex systems. It tries to understand the universe through biological system models, and understood in this way, the chaos in life is not evil, but a necessary part of creation.
In our own lives, we often find order out of chaos. In fact, it may be that our most difficult times have produced our greatest achievements and growth. One example may be Tom, who had long tried to forget time he spent at Washington University. In the fall of 1936, Tom registered for an English course in play writing. The professor was animated and well liked, but Tom just didn’t fit in. He was shy and sat in the back of the class. The highlight of this class was that each student was to write a one-act play. Three of the plays would then be selected by an independent jury to be produced by the university drama club, and from those three, another jury would select the overall winner. There was a great deal of pride and prestige involved in this contest. While the students were working on the plays, occasionally the professor would read portions of the plays to the class.
One day, the professor chose to read Tom’s play. It was a dark Russian melodrama full of war and infidelity and evil. The play was simply bad. It was so bad that the class laughed when it was read. Tom’s play was not one of the three chosen to go before the jury. Upon hearing this, Tom rose slowly with his face indicating rage and he left the room. He also left Washington University.
Today....Tom doesn’t even remember being a student at Washington University, although class rosters from 1936 will verify it. What we remember, though, is the way that Tom....”Tennessee” Williams....overcame those difficulties and gave us the gifts of Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Steetcar Named Desire.
We really don’t know our potential until we face difficulties in life. It is often through turmoil that we discover our skills. Chaos and order provide a creative tension in our lives and the thread that brings order out of chaos is Jesus. It is the power of the Holy Spirit we experience through Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark’s version of the baptism of Jesus helps remind us of “whose” we are. In Mark’s story, the Holy Spirit is present at the river Jordan, along with a voice from heaven proclaiming, “You are my Son, the Beloved.”
As we remember our own baptism today, we, too, are reminded of our own identity. We are part of the family of God, and part of the Body of Christ......the church. The voice also offers an affirmation to Jesus, “with you I am well pleased.” Our baptism is a recognition of the same affirmation from God. God has chosen us, and is pleased with us. We are God’s.
The grace offered to us through Jesus Christ is the order in our chaos. Like Annie Dilliard, God is trying to move us toward the free gift He offers. The line is drawn through Christ, with the power of the Holy Spirit leading us on. Even when life seems hopeless, the creative tension with the grace of God through Christ will lead us to that “SURPRISE.”
Questions:
1. What do you think is the importance of Christian Baptism?
2. Do you know what gifts you have? What are they? Do you use them or do you save them for a rainy day?
3. If God asked you to do something for him today that you have never done before – would you immediately say ‘With the help of you Lord – I will’. Or would you need to think about it and come up with 101 reasons why you shouldn’t do it? What would help you to immediately respond?
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