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Holy Water, Holy Ground
Enuma C. Okoro

From my experience of attending baptisms, I have discovered a few ways of recognizing holy ground.

I always cry at baptisms. I can’t help it.
      My church has a marble baptismal font in which to immerse babies and grownups. It looks like a fancy Jacuzzi except that it’s shaped like a cross. The font sits in front of windows that overlook a garden. When there is a baptism, the whole congregation is invited to circle the font, to be part of this transitional moment in the life of the person being baptized. Unless I’m quick on my feet, I end up half-standing, half-kneeling on the pews, straining my neck to see over other people’s heads, trying to take in everything that’s going on at the font. You would think that I had never witnessed a baptism before. But every time I see a naked baby cradled in the pastor’s arms, about to be swooshed through the clear water, I get butterflies in my stomach and cooing noises begin to bubble up out of me.

Holy Water
Then it happens. The pastor lowers the child and dramatically pulls her in and out of the shallow waters three times: “I baptize you in the name of the Father,” swoosh, “in the name of the Son,” swoosh, “and in the name of the Holy Spirit,” swoosh. Then, making the sign of the cross gently on the crying baby’s forehead, the pastor boldly and loudly proclaims, “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.” Then, with both hands, he lifts the baby high above his head, as if making an offering to the congregation. That’s when I lose it. I am openly weeping and laughing at the same time, and other people must be wondering if I’m a long lost relative of the newly baptized.

Holy Ground
The baptismal font, surrounded by the congregation as a child of God is welcomed into the Christian family, is one of the places I consider holy ground. There, God has come again to be with God’s children. When I look at the baby’s face, I get teary-eyed because this little child has no idea what a remarkable and miraculous thing has happened. The child has been marked for eternity. Her life has been altered forever. No matter what the future brings for the child, God will always hunger for her response to God’s love.

Recognizing Holy Ground
From my experience of attending baptisms, I have discovered a few ways of recognizing holy ground. For me, holy ground is a place
• where we are given another chance to turn from our sinful habits and to remember God’s love and mercy;
• where words are spoken that offer us a chance to see ourselves from God’s perspective;
• where we are invited to join a community that promises to love and nurture us;
• where bodies are claimed for Christ and marked as beautiful;
• where people who might be strangers are called to rejoice together, even if they are different.
How do you know when you are standing on holy ground?

Dig Deeper
Think of a place where you have felt God’s presence? What was going on at the time? Make a list of the ways in which that experience helps you to recognize holy ground.

Enuma C. Okoro is the director and a writing instructor at the Center for Theological Writing at Duke Divinity School.

-- from Devo'Zine (November/December 2006). Copyright © 2006 by Upper Room Ministries. All rights reserved.

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