the smedley log - suburban scrawl

Through the Waters

On Saturday, February 25, my children were welcomed into Christ’s Church by the ancient rite of baptism. For those who know me (either as an online entity or from the reality-based community), and especially for those who may have followed our tortured journey from the Evangelical Church beginning Lent 2005 towards the Roman Catholic Church, I thought this might be of interest. Officiating were Frs. Martin Rauscher and Dennis Crowley of Assumption Parish two blocks from our house here in Morristown, NJ.

Here is Daniel (14)…

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And his sister, Karen (10)… Yes, you read that right: 10 (11 in May but 10 til then)…

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Here’s Jeremiah (7), who hopes to be a “mathologist” when he grows up (if his career as Ice Cream Truck Driver doesn’t pan out)…

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And Maria (5 very soon), who having difficulty making up her mind between ballerina and princess (nice work if you can get it)…

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Finally, Ezra (3), whom you met earlier. Click Ezra in that post for the Flickr photos including a good one of my dad relaxing in front of the wine table (the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree).

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Here is the whole baptismal party (if you call it that)…

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That is 5-times mother but not til this day Godmother Christine on the left holding Dara (#4). And on the the right (where else?), you’ll find the inimitable Howard, proprietor of these blog-parts, and Godfather of these beautiful kids. At center is my lovely wife Robin (Howard’s sister), and, just in case you think it might be rude to ask, yes that is our #6 (if experienced prenatal ultrasound technicians may be believed, Esther Linda) riding along with her. Your scribe is the grey-haired guy with the hopelessly fat tie. As Howard alluded to earlier, we went to our local friendly Italian place for an “intimate” dinner for about 30 people.

I have much to say about this journey that God has led us on. Much more than can be said here. But I do thank Christine and Howard for standing up for us, as well as all the others who attended and shared with us (even when they had to hold their noses for the Catholic theology). It was and continues to be a celebration of life, new and old, of water and of spirit.

Congratulations and may God bless you all.

Karl

I see the pictures came out well on your end, too.

I didn’t know Provesi had a website (I guess I should have looked first), but the food was incredible. It was a lot of fun sitting between Keith and your dad. The fodder drifted between talking about indie music, long term business outlooks for the shipping industry and trying to translate the conversations your dad was having with the people from the restaurant.

And, btw, thanks—it was an honor to be a part of everything.

Karl, thank you.

Howard, yeah, I just looked Provesi up on a lark while authoring here. And lo’ and behold… even Neapolitan immigrants have the internet. Whoda thunk! A little disappointing… tho’ I take some comfort that they probably don’t get much business that way.

Oh, and I also should credit Adam Levin (Christine’s husband) for the great pictures (these are substantially shrunken from their original 2048 pixel width). He’s got a zillion more and will present them to me via CD next week I hope (at their newborn’s baptism come to think of it).

[…] Postcard from the Wilderness By Steve This first Sunday of Lent presents me with the opportunity to come in from the wilderness of an http-less life and blog a bit about the baptism of our children last weekend at our Parish. This I’ve done over at the Smedley Log, owned and operated by my brother-in-law Howard, long-time friend of this blog, and Godfather to said children. Get the story, complete with pictures HERE. […]

Congrats! I have respect for religious journeys – no matter where they start or end. And I believe your children will benefit greatly by seeing parents who can evaluate their current religion, evaluate a different one, and make choices between then and possibly adapt to a new religion instead of following their religion as blindly as many follow a football team. Am hoping you’ll find this new life to have everything tyou wish it to.

PS - not that I didn’t love almost every math course I took en route to my MS, but that Ice Cream Truck Driver thing may just pay a little better than the Mathologist… especially if he can get some sort of discount on Ben & Jerry’s (in the day, math realted stress led to much Ben & Jerry’s).

That nephew of mine aims high—I only ever aspired to School Bus Driver. Any kid worth his salt will tell you Ice Cream is a much more vital mission than driving kids to school.

Ellen, thank you for the kind words. You know most people who follow religion blindly are not following a religion very well at all, but rather their own bellies. For I know of no religion (major one at least) that advocates blind followership. That being said, it has been a difficult transition especially for the older kids, but I think you’re absolutely right, the kids will benefit from witnessing and being part of this journey, which is a story really of God’s grace and forebearance, and a mere willingness to respond to it… one of the millions of Gardens of Gethsemane that just about anyone serious about life has to pass thru.

It’s nice to finally see what you look guys like.

Welcome to the flock.

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