Sometimes when I go running I like to think about all of the things for which I'm thankful:
*Parents that love me
*Parents that love all of their daughters without condition (and it's a good thing!)
*Ten toes and ten fingers
*Lungs that can breathe deeply
*Legs that are strong enough to carry me for more than ten miles at a time
*Good health
*Eyes that can see, even though I need contacts
*Ears that hear so I can listen to my music, even if it is a bit too loud or inappropriate haha
*A body that can move and groove
*Good friends that go waaaaay back
*New friends
*The amazing ability we have as humans to forgive people who hurt us
*Chocolate in my cupboard
*Homemade granola
*Three jobs, when some people don't even have one
*My car
*Music
*A warm house (or an air conditioned one in the summer)
*My friends in other countries
*Spanish as a second language (I'm always learning)
*four good pairs of jeans
*Biology class (note: lecture, NOT lab)
*Cell phone
*Friends who listen to me complain/whine and encourage me
*Friends who randomly let me know they're thinking of me
*Ability to read music
*Nice smelling perfume
*Men who wear nice smelling cologne
*Life
*Fun earrings
*Hot showers
*A loving immediate AND extended family
*All the people who have supported me in all of my adventures
*My cute nephew who now loves me and calls me tía : )
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Raw thoughts on Baptism
Two weekends ago I visited a church which happened to be doing a baby baptism that day. I don't like baby baptisms.
For several reasons which I won't get in to, I disagree with baby baptisms. That Sunday morning it was further confirmed. After little baby had water sprinkled over his head and parents agree to raise him on the straight and narrow, little baby is presented with a wooden teddy bear-shaped wall hanging with baby's first initial. Cute. Then big sister gets a stuffed bunny because she's so wonderful and cute. Everyone is all smiles and after the service pictures are taken of little baby's special day. It was life-changing, right?
What is infant baptism? Why do it? I see people that never come to church (except maybe Christmas and Easter) who bring their babies in to be baptized. Is it their rabbit foot, with confirmation as the lucky penny? In the Bible people got the Holy Spirit and a change of heart; I really don't think John the Baptist was giving out 'I <3 JC' keychains to people lined up by the river.
I know that some people do it with the best intentions and I know that some people recognize their infant baptism as their baptism, but when did we decide to take the decision out of the hands of the one who is getting baptized? Baptism symbolizes many things, a change of heart, a decision, a new life, a cleansing... but does little baby really capture all of those things? Or any?
For several reasons which I won't get in to, I disagree with baby baptisms. That Sunday morning it was further confirmed. After little baby had water sprinkled over his head and parents agree to raise him on the straight and narrow, little baby is presented with a wooden teddy bear-shaped wall hanging with baby's first initial. Cute. Then big sister gets a stuffed bunny because she's so wonderful and cute. Everyone is all smiles and after the service pictures are taken of little baby's special day. It was life-changing, right?
What is infant baptism? Why do it? I see people that never come to church (except maybe Christmas and Easter) who bring their babies in to be baptized. Is it their rabbit foot, with confirmation as the lucky penny? In the Bible people got the Holy Spirit and a change of heart; I really don't think John the Baptist was giving out 'I <3 JC' keychains to people lined up by the river.
I know that some people do it with the best intentions and I know that some people recognize their infant baptism as their baptism, but when did we decide to take the decision out of the hands of the one who is getting baptized? Baptism symbolizes many things, a change of heart, a decision, a new life, a cleansing... but does little baby really capture all of those things? Or any?
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