Baptized In the Jordan

Baptized in the Jordan The preacher announced on the bus: "We are heading to the Jordan river, those wishing to be baptized will get their chance." Thoughts of being dunked in the same water as the real Jesus. That appealed to me. Visions of a wilderness river, just like in those bible times. Taking my cloak off, wading into the muddy Jordan. John the baptizer himself, doing the honors. Dropping me backwards, dying my old sins, raising me to a new life. Coming out to the sound: "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased." That appealed to me. We got off the bus. The wilderness was not all that wild. The Jordan had been turned into "Baptisms are us." Complete with deli and gift shop. Apparently six other buses also had been led by the spirit. Our spirit's time was between 4:00 and 4:30. Ten dollars got you a towel and a white sterile pullover, barely long enough to cover your glad tidings. Lockers and showers were optional. Our group was in zone 4. Who knew rivers had zones. As one of a hundred white clothed sheep, I felt like the newest member of a cult, like the Hari Krishnas, but without the fancy haitcuts. We were herded down concrete steps that led to the river. The Jordan was cold. Baptizers were in the water, ready to go. Henry Ford would have been proud of that production line. Baptizing had never been more efficient. Two every ninety seconds, like pistons, up and down. When it came time for me, I didn't get a "Thank you Jesus" out before I was whipped around and plunged beneath the crimson flood. I almost got whiplash. I dripped back to the locker, glad tidings and all. I think I was baptizee #41. For five bucks, you can get a DVD of your sacred event. I bought ten, they oughta make great Christmas presents. I went through the gift shop. I bought a set of John the Baptist steak knives, Virgin Mary placemats, and a couple of Holy Ghost candle sticks. As I got back on the bus, I thought how far we've come in 2,000 yrs. We've made God's job so much easier, assembly line salvation and baptism, with steak knives thrown in. Would Jesus be proud? That did not appeal to me. 9.7.17.