Though my family did not go to church, from early childhood on, I believed in God and treasure a loving God as I believe Him to be.
At age nineteen I began going to a dear church in the country, and was baptized. It really was a very profound experience...but...BUT...sometimes the most hilarious unexpected things can happen to me. Remember THIS...I am very buoyant in water.I had become close friends with the pastor, his wife, and kids, for we adults were the same age, and in school with many expenses. Often on Sunday nights I would join them for fried egg and ketchup sandwiches while we shared hopes, tears, laughter, and dreams.
Several others were being baptized the same day I was, with a packed church. This was a full immersion baptism, so the water was 3' deep. I LOVE WATER. Oceans, swimming pools, lakes, creeks, I am in!ð
The church had just gotten brand new white baptism robes...mine being 7" longer than me. And did I say yet I am very buoyant in water?ð
I was last. I gathered as much of the excess robe in my hand as I could and stepped in...before the packed church watching, including my dear friend Jackie, who could laugh loud...really loud.
When I reached bottom the water immediately caused me to pop up like a cork, as a HUGE expanse of white material suddenly rose to the top.ðģ
By this time I was floating and trying to look in control at the same time. Ron could immediately see we were rapidly losing control...both in the water, and trying not to laugh. Nevertheless, we had to continue. He managed to guide me over to him, and asked the right questions I responded to, and then...AND THEN...came the moment to dip
my head beneath the water by laying me backwards. SO not good. NOT good. Remember, I am very buoyant now with a HUGE expanse of white robe?ðą
Ron laid me back and before he could react my legs went flying out of the water straight up in the air. By the way, I should say I thankfully did have on a bathing suit.ð
He first had to raise my head back up, then quickly managed to force my legs back down, but white material was everywhere floating and I had to grab onto him because I was floating out of control.ð
So much for trying to BE in control. We lost it.ðĪĢ
Just as Ron and I thought we were getting some semblance of control and dignity, we could first hear Jackie trying to stifle her unique loud laugh, followed by others who were losing it. Then WE began losing it. And this was a baptism! God surely had to be falling over laughing up there!ð
As Ron kept me from popping out of the water, he carefully pushed me to the other side to get out. BUT it didn't end there though, you see. Remember the expanse of robe? As I was about to climb out, part of the brand new robe got caught on a nail and I became stuck. I was trapped! In the water!ðĪĢ
Ron laid me back and before he could react my legs went flying out of the water straight up in the air. By the way, I should say I thankfully did have on a bathing suit.ð
He first had to raise my head back up, then quickly managed to force my legs back down, but white material was everywhere floating and I had to grab onto him because I was floating out of control.ð
So much for trying to BE in control. We lost it.ðĪĢ
Just as Ron and I thought we were getting some semblance of control and dignity, we could first hear Jackie trying to stifle her unique loud laugh, followed by others who were losing it. Then WE began losing it. And this was a baptism! God surely had to be falling over laughing up there!ð
As Ron kept me from popping out of the water, he carefully pushed me to the other side to get out. BUT it didn't end there though, you see. Remember the expanse of robe? As I was about to climb out, part of the brand new robe got caught on a nail and I became stuck. I was trapped! In the water!ðĪĢ
So as poor Ron was trying to seriously speak to the congregation, out of the corner of his eye he could see I was stuck...good and stuck. Not only that, he noticed I was totally shaking in laughter so hard, I was making waves in the water.ð
Jackie said they could tell something else crazy had happened, and suddenly could see all these waves rolling across the baptistry.ðĪŠ
Bless his heart though, somehow Ron was able to quickly wrap up what he was saying. Only he couldn't exit my way because I was still in the water wrapped in white robe stuck on a nail. He had to go the other way then hurry around the long back hallway to help me get out, but it was very difficult you see. We were both in hysterics. We totally lost it!ð And he still had to deliver a sermon!ðąðĪĢ
Somehow we finally managed to get the new robe off the nail without ripping it...much...then got me out so he could be on his way. With all that HUGE expanse of heavy wet robe I somehow made it to the change area. I realized it would absolutely be best not to join Jackie and the congregation, until AFTER the service. With good reason. Everyone said they would have lost all control, bursting into laughter as soon as I entered, including Ron delivering the sermon.ðĪĢ
That had to be the funniest baptism in the history of mankind. Jackie said it could only happen to me.
Ohhh, yes!ð
Decades later I heard they were still laughing about Adelaide's baptism.ðĪĢððŦ
Jackie said they could tell something else crazy had happened, and suddenly could see all these waves rolling across the baptistry.ðĪŠ
Bless his heart though, somehow Ron was able to quickly wrap up what he was saying. Only he couldn't exit my way because I was still in the water wrapped in white robe stuck on a nail. He had to go the other way then hurry around the long back hallway to help me get out, but it was very difficult you see. We were both in hysterics. We totally lost it!ð And he still had to deliver a sermon!ðąðĪĢ
Somehow we finally managed to get the new robe off the nail without ripping it...much...then got me out so he could be on his way. With all that HUGE expanse of heavy wet robe I somehow made it to the change area. I realized it would absolutely be best not to join Jackie and the congregation, until AFTER the service. With good reason. Everyone said they would have lost all control, bursting into laughter as soon as I entered, including Ron delivering the sermon.ðĪĢ
That had to be the funniest baptism in the history of mankind. Jackie said it could only happen to me.
Ohhh, yes!ð
Decades later I heard they were still laughing about Adelaide's baptism.ðĪĢððŦ
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