BAPTISM AT THE BEACH

I went to a baptism today for a family member who is thirteen. It was a big event; there were a lot of people there. Man, I think there were more candidates for baptism by this non-denominational Evangelical church today than were in my small Anglican church this morning en toto. Quite the operation! It was a strange experience for me. I myself got baptized this past year; this after having left the church as a young man. I didn't involve my family as they are somewhat fundamentalistic, pretty hard core Evangelical. I think they would see little difference between the Anglican church and Roman Catholicism. This tight, narrow definition of "Christian" was echoed today by one of the baptismal candidates who said, "I was a good Catholic for 40 years, and then I came became a Christian." Although I felt ambivalent, it was a joyful occasion overall. The weather rocked, people were happy, lots of happy kids running about; still I was troubled by feelings of alienation from my family and my roots, and feelings of sadness.