I have done dozens of baptisms over the years. Of all of the things I do as a pastor, I find baptism to be particularly meaningful as it is a very public declaration of faith in obedience to the command and call of Jesus and because of the beautiful symbolism it demonstrates. I find myself getting emotional every time I lower someone into the water and pronounce the words, “Buried with Him in baptism; Raised to walk in newness of life.” I always consider it an immense privilege to play even a small part in the faith journey of another. Each baptism over the years has been meaningful and special in its own way, but other than the baptisms of my two children, none has been so encouraging to me as the baptism of young Titus Parker this past Sunday.
“I’M SO HAPPY! I’M SO HAPPY!” – Titus Parker
Titus is the son of Nathan and Rachel Parker. Not only is Nathan the Pastor of Worship and Media here at First Baptist Church, but he is also one of my oldest friends. We played for rival schools in middle school and we were classmates/teammates through high school, were roommates in college, were the best men in each other’s weddings, and served together at a church in northern Indiana early in our careers. Our shared history alone made this a very special moment, but what made it particularly meaningful was the expressions and excitement of Titus.
Before we do a baptism at First Baptist, we try to provide a little background to bring the congregation up to speed on what precipitated the need for a baptism. So, I called Titus to the front and began explaining how Titus had come to me several weeks ago to express his faith in Jesus and his desire to be baptized. I noted how excited Titus was that morning and asked Titus why he was so pumped. He answered, “Because I really want to get baptized!” Everyone in the room could hear the excitement in his voice and they could see his feet dancing as he eagerly anticipated stepping into the water. But, what everyone couldn’t feel was the tremble of excitement that went through his shoulders as he said it.
We helped him into the water and Nathan and I began moving into position to baptize him. Before I could get the words that precede the baptism out of my mouth, Titus leaned his head back and lifted his legs to dip back into the water. Nathan was doing all he could to delay the inevitable, so I quickly said the words and into the water he went. As we stood next to the baptistry to pray for Titus and his family, Titus excitedly kept saying, “I’M SO HAPPY! I’M SO HAPPY!” A wave of emotion stemming from his declaration of excitement moved me and many others in the crowd to tears of joy.
As we grow up it is easy to grow out of the excitement and wonder that accompanies first time experiences.
As we grow up it is easy to grow out of the excitement and wonder that accompanies first time experiences. It is so easy for us to become jaded as the years go by. Our sensibilities become stabilized by the familiarity that comes from repetition. What was at one time invigorating and exciting becomes standard operating procedure. This seems to be true in so many areas of life, such as school, work, relationships, faith, etc. We come out of the gate full of wonder and excitement, eager for all there is to experience. And, in that excitement, we find a joy and purpose that compels us to keep going. At times, we need to rediscover that wonder.
Every moment is meaningful when we see things with a proper perspective.
In Revelation 2, Jesus calls the church at Ephesus to remember their first love. They were doing all the right things, but they had lost the passion and love that undergirded those actions. As I watched and listened to Titus yesterday, and as the emotion of his energy overtook the room, I believe I was seeing the beauty of first love in action. It served as a very poignant and timely reminder to find the joy in every precious moment of life. It reminded me that every moment is meaningful when we see things with a proper perspective.
