Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

By Dr. Rev. Al Caldwell

Jesus' Baptism by John. Chapel of the Unnamed Faithful. Photo by Al Caldwell.

Mark 1: 9-11 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11 And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

The Boy Who Bumped His Head
A poem for Evan Taowarodom Caldwell
On the Day of His Baptism, June 2, 2007
By His Grandfather, Al Caldwell

In a hurry you were, Evan
To be born into this world
With majestic speed and unrelenting pace
You rushed forward anxious to
Fall into the strong and steady hands
Of a mommy and daddy who will hold you
In their hearts even more than in their hands.

What was your hurry, boy who bumped his head?
What race were you running that
Wonderful day on April nineteen?
In a hurry you were, Evan,

Your Mommy and Daddy waited thirteen years
Your sisters, eight and three
And Grandma and Grandpa had lost count
Yet, here you came on a race against time
And banged your beautiful hair covered head
On the bones deep inside your natal home.

Just a month old, you are, boy who bumped your head.
And already you have a great story to tell
Looked at you, the doctor did, and said,
"that's a cephalohemotoma, a bruise
Caused by coming into the world too fast."

But you, little man, who has captured our hearts,
You have a story to tell.
Some people live a lifetime and never know
They have a story worth telling,
But you, Evan, story teller in the making,
Will say to folks,
"let me tell you about the time
I bumped my head."

Just like your biblical ancestor, Jacob
Whose thigh went out of joint
For wrestling with the angels.
Like proud men who show their battle scars
Like loving mothers who share their birthing stories
Like children on the playground who
Need to have their owies kissed,
Like a warrior who has won a
Righteous race,
You have shown us your bruise
And you are like a
Wounded healer who will help to teach us
The way of peace.

So, little boy who bumped your head,
We mark you today with a different sign,
Today we will pour water on your head
And mark your face with oil
And we will trace the sign of the cross
Upon you to mark you for the one
Whose gave his life for you.

So, live into this magnificent story, Evan,
Invisible is the sign we put on you today
Yet it is as indelible as the color of your eyes
And it will wear on you as tough as iron.

Hungry, you are Evan, eating with a
voracious appetite that seems never to be filled.
May this hunger drive you deep
In life to pursue what is good and true and noble.
May your hunger move you to probe the wisdom
Of the sages and help to create
A world where people hunger and thirst for righteousness.

So, little boy, who bumped his head,
The doctor said you had a bruise
And it would go away in time
But you just puckered up and seemed to say,
"I've waited long enough; let me kiss
This world hello."
What did the psalmist say?
"Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet and
Righteousness and peace will kiss each other."

So, Evan, pucker up
And meet the world.
We hold you today under a waterfall of grace
Where hundreds of thousands of saints
have kissed the waters of baptism and
brought forth fountains of love

In a hurry, you were , Evan,
Little Boy who bumped your head,
Your life will bring you many bumps,
But know this.
You are in safe hands.
Loving hands,
You are A promise hidden deep in your daddy's heart
A love held fast in your mommy's soul
A wonder not yet imagined in your sisters' dreams
A magnificent hope for the future held in your grandparents spirit
And yes,
You are in the palm of God's almighty hands
And for that we welcome you today
As the little boy who bumped his head
and found a loving God..