Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

370 :: JOHN R. MABRY
on dry land. Then, lots later, Mary nourished Jesus in the
water of her womb—”
“Okay, this is too much,” Jack complained.
Dylan ignored him and pressed on. “Then John the Baptist
poured water over Jesus’ head in the Jordan River. A
Samaritan woman offered him water at a well. Then Jesus
washed the disciples’ feet. What does all this tell us, little
one?”
Jamie shrugged.
“It tells us that God really, really likes water! And he uses
it for all kinds of symbolic things—”
“I’m sorry, Connie,” Jack shook his head. “This man cannot
be a Catholic priest.”
Dylan raised the pitcher up and poured a long stream of
water into the bowl. Jamie’s eyes lit up as the arc of water hit
the bowl and splashed all over the chapel. She jumped up
and down and giggled. Then Dylan set the pitcher down and
jumped up and down with her. “Isn’t this fun?” he asked her.
Still jumping, she nodded with big, dramatic jerks of her
head.
“Okay we’re gonna talk to God, now,” he put his finger
to his lips and said, “Shhh....”
Then he straightened up and held his hands over the water.
“Hey God, why don’t you come on down into this here
water? Fill it with your grace and blessing so that Jamie here
will always feel loved and protected and comforted. Make
her, by this action, part of your Son, Jesus Christ, so that she
might continue his healing work in the world. Amen.”
He leaned over and whispered to her. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “Okay, here we go. Pick her up, Uncle Jack.”
Jack scowled at Dylan, but lifted Jamie so that her chin
was nearly resting on the bowl.
“Jamie, Ah baptize you in the name of the Holy One,
Creator,” he dribbled a little bit of water on her forehead.