Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Dearest God,

She is fragile, 75 years old, about 80 lbs, battling with cancer. For eleven years she has fought ovarian cancer. Her cancer indicators reveal a high level of 400. Anything over 35 is considered cancer.

She wants to be baptized. A member of her family told her years ago that she thought she had been baptized as a child. But she is the last of her family line now and no one is alive to confirm it. No baptism certificate. The church is long gone. She really wants to be baptized.

I went to her home, really to her daughter's home with whom she lives. I hugged her frail body as I was introduced to her. I asked about her cancer experience, when she was first diagnosed. I listened as she informed me of the battlefield where she has been fighting since 1996. Her voice was weak. It was day number five since chemo, a bad day.

I asked her what baptism meant for her. She talked about her faith, how she had trusted in the Lord for a long, long time. "Religion's not so hard," she told me she had shared with a friend, "just follow the ten commandments. Jesus was baptized and I think he wants me to be too."

"I want to tell you a story," she said. "When I was a young mother, I learned about a twenty six year old mother who had died of cancer. Her husband wasn't much to talk about. And she had a couple of kids. I watched from the screen door when the procession went by. I said right then, "Oh God, let me live long enough to raise my kids. I won't ask for anything more. Anything you give me, I'll take." She pleaded with the Almighty.

Her kids are all raised now and doing well. She seems proud of their accomplishments. When she looked over at her daughter, she smiled. She's doing as much as she can to fight this latest battle. She's got two or three more treatments to endure. Then it's up to God.

I studied this lovely lady. You can tell something about a person by looking into their eyes. Although her skin is darkened by the serious bout and her eyes are deep set and she is very weary, I could see a sweet spirit. I think she's the real deal. Her faith appears to rise out of her core. She's one of God's own.

I told her I would be honored to baptize her. And although our denomination adheres to the theology of "one body, one baptism," I told her I believe God looks at the intention of the heart. There's nothing in this woman to argue with. Her deepest desire is baptism. Who am I or a denomination to say "no." She hopes to make it to a church service. The date is set. She wondered about her headscarf, since she has lost her hair. She thought maybe she could make some kind of lace thing to wear when she was sprinkled. I told her not to worry. "I can baptize your forehead. And if you grow sicker and you can't get to church, I'll come to you. I'll bring a representative of the church to assist me. We'll get you baptized one way of the other."
Tears trickled down her face as I promised to make it easy for her. I remember the slogan a few years ago. What would Jesus do? Baptize her, of course.

I watched with great interest the relationship between mother and daughter. As I looked at this mother as she spoke, I saw her daughter in my peripheral vision. My, how she loves her mother. This woman has faith, due in part to a mother's faith. What a beautiful scene before me.

I thought about the church, our rules, committees and structure. We need organizational order out of which to operate the church. But when it comes to the tender heart of love for a Savior, we need to release the "law" and allow the heart and spirit space. God is there in those prized moments. As a pastor I offer freedom to those who need it to make a decision for Christ. Freedom will release a person from unwanted burdens so they can rise up to see the eyes of salvation.

A pastor has many tasks, responsibilities. We wear many hats and we need to keep each one close by so we can shift when the need arises. We hear many stories. We carry many endeared secrets. We walk with people in the muddy trenches of life. And when we get heavy, God carries us.

I'm on stand by at any moment to baptize this faith-filled woman if the need presents itself before our scheduled date. But frankly, I think she's already been baptized in the heart by the Savior himself.

Glorious God,
Wednesday is a good day
to meet Jesus.
He has many faces;
today he wore a blue scarf.

Eternally yours, Andrea