I need a towel this morning, i was baptized. Not by a sprinkle of holy water, nor at the hands of a priest. Not in a church sancuary, or underneath a brightly lit golden cross emblem.  Not surrounded by the smell of glade plug-ins and clorox bleach, nor of ancient pews and dusty bibles. I was baptized in the most beautiful way, in the most holy place. Wading into the dusty lake water, i felt the warmness slip over my feet, my ankles, my knees, my thighs....my waist, my hands dip in. Half emersed and fully dressed, i felt awkward but completely somber. A woman whom i love, trust, care for, and follow put her arm around me and smiled in my ear. I fely her warmth like i felt the waters, slowly encompasing me. Straight ahead the trees hid in a low fog; huge and mighty they reminded me of my dad, who stood behind me, holding back tears. Fish jumped in and out of the same water which we stood but instead of making me uncomfortable, i found peace in the noise they made as they reentered the water. To the point where my hands stroked the waters soft surface, i turned around to face my congregation; people i know, people i dont know, friends, peers, superiors, strangers, encouragers. Not one single person was looking anywhere but me. I felt their smiles hit my face, their hopes, thier wishes, their prayers. I feel their full attention on me at this one point in time. Although what follows is most likely the most inportant part of the ordinace, i dont exactly remember what occured, what was said, or even exactly all it felt like. But i do recall the complete and utter silence, emptiness, and cleanliness underneath the waters surface as i was dipped in for the last time as an unbaptized child of God....
  ¶ 4:30 PM