Dear Friends, With late spring already here, the early morning dock is particularly inviting: Beautiful sunrises, each unique in color, cloud pattern, reflection… reflection of light, sky and clouds upon the water. With the virtue of this Gulf Coast land being rhythmic soothing, life replenishing, intent reminding, I find myself in a place for experiencing, breathing in, and appreciating the beauty of the unfolding creation… a place for reflection… essential reflection… reflection essential to staying on the path of becoming fully and truly human. In recent letters, we have been reflecting on the gospels from a process perspective, and particularly on baptism as process, from the perspective of its role in the process of our becoming fully and truly human – as intended… from the perspective of the process of baptism in relation to our participating with the intended ongoing unfolding of life and the life processes of earth – as intended. A path that calls for our embracing the truth of our membership in life and our work and role in eternalizing life – the whole of life on this earth in the here and unfolding now.
After receiving and reading “Reflecting on Baptism from a Here and Now Process Perspective” (Letter from the Dock #12), a friend asked that I write a bit more about seeing baptism as process. My letter in response follows…
We are working to see both baptisms – baptism of water and baptism of Spirit – as processes. One need only reflect on our advancing humanness work on this earth at this time, the work of turning hearts to pursuing that which works for all children and minds to the wisdom of wholeness, to see that this is not a “one time event,” but an intended continually unfolding process, providing ever-deepening seeing and understanding, from which one would take action.
The first baptism, baptism of water, is one of turning hearts and minds… seeing from a new perspective… at this time of now, turning hearts towards pursuing that which works for all children, away from pursuing personal advantage/leverage for my children, our children… and turning minds to the wisdom of wholeness, away from that which divides. This is repentance, this is the metanoia called for at this time of now.
It is this metanoia – change in heart and mind – that makes possible the second baptism process. This shift in perspective, when we can hold ourselves to stay the course with it, leads to receptivity, openness, reflection… all of which quiet the mind and heart, turning from what I want to happen, what I am attached to; turning towards opening one’s heart and mind to the entry of Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom, the wisdom of intent… wisdom essential to guiding reason such that the world of our making becomes congruent with the world of intent. Wisdom does not speak to a noisy mind and heart… she runs away. Without this quieting of the mind, without letting go of our attachment to self as the source of solutions, without becoming willfully receptive, we are unable to hear the voice of wisdom… hence are not open to being “baptized by Spirit.” This too is an ongoing process. Again, one need only reflect on how we can be quiet, at peace, receptive… and the next moment have more noise in our mind and perhaps negative emotions in our heart than we feel we can handle. If wisdom of intent and essence are to guide reason, we are called to develop the ableness to “hear” the voice of wisdom and to “see” essence. Hence the essentiality of “baptism of water” for preparing a people receptive to Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of intent.
All for now,
Sandra
Sandra Maslow Smith, Philosopher of Potential
