Keep Your Toes Pointed - Just In Case

In 2000, the film O Brother Where Art Thou was released, starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Goodman.

The story, based loosely on Homer's Odyssey, follows three convicts through their bitter sweet, comedic adventures after escaping from a Mississippi jail during the Great Depression. No mistake - Homer's Odyssey.

The album O Brother Where Art Thou was awarded the Grammy's Best Album of the Year in 2002. This is american folk music showcasing many performers including a few older recordings. One of the songs on the album was titled Down In the River to Pray, and is sung by Alison Krauss, a blue grass singer, song writer, and musician. The origin of this spiritual is unclear. A couple of days ago I listened to this music and this morning I am still going around singing it. Does a song ever stick with you like that?






Down In the River to Pray

As I went down to the river to pray
Studyin about that good ol' way
and who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let's go down
Lets go down, Come on down
O sisters let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin about that good ol way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord show me the way

O brothers let's go down
Let's go down, Come on down
O brothers let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin about that good ol way
And who shall wear the star and crown
Good lord show me the way

O fathers let's go down
Let's go down, Come on down
O fathers let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin about that good ol way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord show me the way

O mothers let's go down
Come on down, don't you wanna go down
O mothers let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studin about that good ol' way
And who shall wear the star and crown
Good Lord show me the way

O sinners let's go down
Lets go down, come on down
O sinners let's go down
Down in the river to pray

As I went down in the river to pray
Studyin about that good ol way
And who shall wear the robe and crown
Good Lord show me the way





Some Christian denominations sprinkle the heads of babies. I believe that is a public commitment of the parents before God and others to raise their child in the Christian faith. In some other denominations, a child or adult joins the church, then shortly later is baptized by immersion. Similarly, this is a public testimony of the individual's faith and commitment.

My mother was baptized in 1919 in a small Florida lake, on a sunny, summer day. The thing she remembers most is that she, and her best and life long friend were baptized in the same service. The church that I was raised in had a baptistry, and when I joined the church at the age of 9, I was disappointed that I would not be baptized in the lake. Then as now, I think an outdoor setting seems so natural and a part of God's world. However, I too, have a nice memory of being baptized with my life long, dear friend.

Being a member of my church and getting ready to be baptized that night meant a great deal to me. Having said that, I must tell you that my thoughts at that moment had little to do with my faith. I was nervous and afraid that I would be held under the water too long, would run out of breath, and that this would happen (see picture below).