It is a moment I want to wrap up securely and tuck into a safe niche in my heart where it will not be forgotten or lost, though right now it's hard to imagine it ever fading.
My young friend has many times shown a unique sensitivity to spiritual things. On the swing with Miss Linda, he would name classmates and teachers who were missing that day so that together they could pray for those friends. A couple of years ago we began our practice of leaving the classroom and going into the Worship Center for the music portion of the service, then returning to our own room. On more than one occasion, he would look up, around and above us, then turn and ask, "Holy Spirit?" He seemed to sense something very special when he entered that big space and sought confirmation of its source.
We have seen many baptisms at the beginning of these services. Often when the traditional words were spoken just before a candidate was tipped back into the water, my friend would echo the words of the pastor then snuggle into the adult who accompanied him. The tenderness was palpable. Knowing that his responsiveness to God was growing, several months ago we visited the baptistry to learn more. Many Sunday evenings he would ask to go there and see if anyone was being baptized at the beginning of that service. We would hide in the wings and work on whispering as he asked his questions each week. There was a conscious effort on my part to increase his understanding but not lead him into anything. God was doing His own work in this fellow's life and did not need my help. I thought my heart would burst, though, when he announced, not asked, "I be baptized. Me!"
For several weeks following, different adults approached him with their questions, wanting to hear the standard responses of one seeking baptism. He never came through that way. You see, there is nothing standard about my friend. Every cell of him is unique. His obsessions, his energy, his need to have control are all parts of the package that sparkles and flashes in our Special Needs class. He is not strong on the social graces and traditional cliches that his contemporaries possess. Good or bad, he says it like it is and he's not one to give you the answer you want. He will speak what he really feels and believes. Music, however, connects with him in a very powerful way and the lyrics of Mandisa's Not Guilty became his tearful profession of faith. I know you, I love you, I gave my life to save you.
Church leadership was sensitive enough to accept the interpretation of this young man's faith by those close to him and agreed to his baptism. Though there are dozens of pastors who regularly baptize in our mega church, our tender-hearted senior pastor entered the water this Sunday and told this story of faith. The obsessions were tabled, the attention was focused, and the will was quietly submitted as this young disciple was lowered into the water. "I baptize you, my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are buried with Jesus in likeness of His death and raised to walk in a brand new life."
