my, what a great deal has happened since friday. saturday, marianne came and we painted the southside red with our silliness. first the beehive, then the grecian batissere, then fat heads for beer. though it had been a year since we'd seen each other it was like no time had gone by and i'm so glad she was able to come through. sunday was the big day. the girls came down from grove city and we all piled into the eagle and made our way down to white oak with only one stop in the vortex of east mckeesport to ask for directions. then we off roaded it into the woods. donny (my car) did a wonderful job. we all stood shivering in the wind as we went through the liturgy and then sang "down in the river to pray" as we walked across the train tracks and down the slope to the water. kris carried the cross in front of all of us. we looked and the river and looked at each other and said, well, let's go. the water was unbelievably cold and i don't really remember everything from this point on but kris and dan, don and em came out with me. just as don was lowering me under, the clouds parted and sun came out...no really...i have pictures to prove it. the water was so cold it hurt, and it must have taken my breath away because when i came back up i shook my head and started coughing. i came back to shore, down anointed me with oil and everyone prayed over me. then we headed back here for food. i don't know, it was all very surreal, and now i'm in bed sick because of that icy river, though i suppose it's a small price to pay for eternal salvation.
sometimes i'm simply amazed at satan's insecurities... i think he was pretty pissed at what happened sunday and he'd like me to know. i feel like from the time i came back up from the water i've been fighting attack and at the end of the day i sat on my bed feeling like i'd been through battle. from don's head going goofy afterwards (he was seeing spots), to people getting lost and never showing up, to my attitude, to messy relationship stuff, to my getting sick the list goes on, that afternoon, evening, night has been crazy. i'm not afraid of him and his efforts but i'm mad at him, that it kept me from rejoicing. i know God is not absent and He just laughs at this stuff even though He empathizes with the fact that i'm pissed. in any case, i'm so blessed to have a cloud of witnesses and friends be there for me that day and brothers like dan and kris to stand along side me in life and leadership as the meld into one as it should be, the beautiful and blessed friendship i have with em which is always refreshing and challenging, and after all don's teasing and complaining, really caring enough to hurt his brain to baptize me in that water.
well this all feels a little sorted, and not my best effort, but it will do for now, because i'm going back to sleep. maybe i'll write more later.
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2 comments:
Flanny!
lack of postage, girl! come on, I need to be entertained, here. I'm spending 12 hours a day this week in front of my computer screen and friends like you are NOT helping with my 15 minute incremental procrastination breaks.
P.S. I've decided that your blogger code name is Flanny, since you wouldn't let me call you that at the Grove. My blogger code name is already established, as M.
Unbelievably good post. You know, I will be baptized this Sunday, Pentecost. I am anxious and thrilled and overwhelmed and worried all at the same time. It was significant and meaningful for me to read this today. Thank you.
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