Monday, July 26, 2010

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).








23 comments:

  1. Mya,
    I love this post! I remember being just a little scared the night before and that morning. A lake would have been a beautiful place to share your devotion to God! Your mother is so lucky (but then again, it's not the place we make our commitment, it is the commitment itself)!
    I hope you liked the information on the Evergreen Barn.
    Terrie

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  2. Loved the music to the movie and really enjoyed the movie too. Uh huh...now I have that song stuck in my head but what a great song to have there.

    (())

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  3. Mya... I loved the entire Post! The movie the song and your story...You had me laughing so hard I burst into tears"

    I even Called my Mother and had her to view this post because I knew she would laugh harder then I did and we laughed 20 minutes more!

    What made this sooooo funny is that we could relate...As children we both had this same fear about being held under longer then we could hold our breath.. Lol!

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  4. P.S.. I would love to have had the experience as your Mother...I think we should go back to doing that because I see nature and God as one it would feel so beautiful and natural..

    even though we can find him indoors and out, it would just feel good..

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  5. It's one of my very favourite films, and I loved the concept of people being bona fide or not. And the pomade, of course. "Somewhere a-working for the Lord" is the bit that pops up out of my subconscious every once in a while.

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  6. Mya,
    I was baptized as a young girl--about 11 years old, and I remember being nervous too, but what a gift it was, and I'm forever grateful for that cleansing and rebirth.

    Love that movie too--puts a smile on my face,
    Debi

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  7. We have this movie AND cd! I love this song and will now be singing it for the next week, thankyouverymuch!

    I was baptized outdoors and it was a really great experience. You're right though, the place is not as important as the act.

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  8. I was sprinkled as a baby and that was my baptism. I knew this was not a decision I had made. So, at 34 I made that decision. My oldest daughter was with me, at the time she was about 3. She referred to it as, the day Momma got her hair wet!
    Debbie

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  9. Beautiful song. I think that last picture might be too much for a child. I haven't seen that movie, but now I want to.

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  10. Just dropping by to visit a 'sorority sister'. Feel free to visit anytime and help yourself to some tea and cookies over at my blog. God Bless.

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  11. Enjoyed your post. We are sisters...I was baptized at nine too :)

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  12. O Brother Where Art Thou is one of my family's favorite movies, top five easily. We also have the soundtrack and many of the songs play in my head, including this one. My kids know all the words and we'll sing it together if the CD is playing in the car.

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  13. This post brought back so many memories for me from the movie to the time I was baptized and then I am still smiling about your closing comment and picture.

    Thank you for stopping by my blog today and introducing yourself. I am in awe at all the wonderful people that I have been meeting. Woman who share my passion for crafts and so many that share my love for the lord. I am sorry I waited so long to blog.

    Thank you for inviting me to the ATC Swap. I have a Yahoo! papercraft swap group called PBS Swappers, that is new and going well however I love ATC's and the members do not seem interested in this particular papercraft. :-( I will definately check it out.

    I am looking forward in joining in on all the fun with the Bloggerette Sorority~ Sherry F.

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  14. I have seen that movie but I never really focussed on the soundtrack. Thanks for reminding me of the beautiful music used in the film.

    I love your Baptism story too-that image is hilarious!

    Best wishes and happy weekend,
    Natasha.

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  15. Mya,
    Enjoyed your post. That last photo is so funny! And thanks for stopping by MY blog! i'll have to show my granddaughter ( newly baptized in the Lake ) this post also. She'll enjoy it though I don't think she had any fears ahead of time. But then she hadn't seen THIS photo.

    sandy

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  16. A great post and the last photo brought a smile to my face! Rejoicing with you for the waters of baptism.

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  17. love the song..the pictures and especially that last picture...too funny.

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  18. I love this song Down to the River and Pray. What a beautiful video, I had to watch it twice.
    Thank-you,
    Ginger

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  19. I enjoyed your post.Beautiful song.
    Blessings,
    Virginia

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  20. Hopping over to see your blog after you left a comment on mine...
    I must tell you I LOVE the song by Allison Krauss... my daughter who sings on our worship team sang this at a evening service, from that moment on, it turned into one of my favorites! ;)
    I love your story about not getting baptised in the lake too...hehe...you should see the pictures I took of my husband and our Pastor on the 4th of July standing in a local lake FREEZING while they baptised members...I think they would've love to be inside on that day!!!!
    thanks again for visiting me, I will come back and visit again!!!
    Melody

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  21. DEAR MYA,
    I LOVE THIS POST, INCLUDING YOUR STORY AND WHEN I SAW THAT LAST PICTURE I LAUGHED SO HARD I ALMOST FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR. YOU ARE SO FUNNY.
    I WAS BAPTIZED AT THE AGE OF 15 YEARS OLD AFTER WE CAME BACK FROM OUR BAPTIST CHURCH CAMP...FALLS CREEK...CLOSE TO ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA.
    MOTHER TOOK US TO SUNDAY SCHOOL BUT WE NEVER WENT TO CHURCH. I CANNOT EVER REMEMBER A TIME I WAS NOT CLOSE TO GOD. OUR CHURCH HAS THE BAPTISTRY. MY BELOVED AMY WAS BAPTIZED AT THE AGE OF 9...SHE WAS AFRAID OF DROWNING...RICHIE OUR SON WAS 2 AT THE TIME AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A SWIMMING POOL IN THE CHURCH.
    I THINK IT WOULD BE AWESOME TO BE BAPTIZED IN A LAKE. GOD ALWAYS TALKED TO ME OUT DOORS BY THE WAY A LEAF FALLS FROM A TREE...AN ANT...A ROCK...THE WIND...NO WIND.......
    I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WERE THE LADY THAT SENT AMY THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE DANDELION WHEN SHE WAS SICK....I KEPT LOOKING AT YOUR PROFILE PICTURE AND WONDERING WHERE I HAD SAW IT BEFORE....IT IS IDENTICAL TO YOUR PICTURE......WHOEVER DID SEND IT...IT WAS STUNNING AND AMY LOVED IT
    HUGS
    SIMPLY DEBBIE

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  22. I know what you mean about getting songs on your mind, I do that all the time. I hate it when I get a song on my mind that I don't like but can't seem to get rid of it. LOL Thank you for this interesting post. I'm glad you chose to share on Spiritual Sundays.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  23. I love Alison Krauss- "Living Prayer" is another very spiritual one of hers. They are all very haunting and tend to get stuck in my head, too ;)

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