Joy Like a River

I was baptized at age 13 in the waters of a creek flowing from a low-water bridge near our rural home in Oklahoma. Yesterday as we drove by that area, I noticed a sign there saying SHOOFLY CREEK. Maybe that's what it's called, since a shoofly can be a tributary of a river, which in this case would be the Chickaskia River which meanders its way through northern Oklahoma. Anyway, now I can say I was baptized in Shoofly creek!

I love old-fashioned baptisms in country bodies of water. Recently our daughter and son-in-law conducted a baptism at a lake and also had Sunday service there, followed by a picnic fellowship meal. They said it was a wonderful, spiritual time outside in God's creation.

Jesus did much of his teaching out of doors. He taught by lakes and on mountains, using their natural amplification to make himself heard. He was baptized by John in the river Jordan. Visitors to the Holy Land often make getting baptized in the Jordan a priority, while some are baptized in the Dead Sea.

I recently read a story about Paul Harvey, telling of a life-changing experience in his life. He said he had been a Christian for many years, but had never been baptized. Then one day he was vacationing in a mountain area and came upon a primitive church. The minister preached a simple, yet compelling message, closing with an invitation of baptism to any of the few gathered there who had not been baptized. Paul said he felt himself being drawn to the front, stepping into the baptismal waters and receiving such joy that he had never before experienced. He said the new-found joy stayed with him from then on.

In a country song sung by Randy Travis, he sings of a small boy's baptism, saying he saw no angels, just a few saints on the shore, but he felt like a newborn baby, being cradled in the arms of the Lord. It reminded me of our preacher son-in-law's baptism service. I saw pictures of those being baptized, but not of "the few saints on the shore," but I knew they were there, sharing the joy of those who had had a country baptism!