May 27, 2009

Mundane Miracles

I'm reading Marilynne Robinson's Gilead and loving it, every page. Especially the pages that contain pearls like this one:

"You and Tobias are hopping around in the sprinkler. The sprinkler is a magnificent invention because it exposes raindrops to sunshine. That does occur in nature, but it is rare. When I was in seminary I used to go sometimes to watch the Baptists down at the river. It was something to see the preacher lifting the one who was being baptized up out of the water and the water pouring off the garments and the hair. It did look like a birth or a resurrection. For us the water just heightens the touch of the pastor's hand on the sweet bones of the head, sort of like making an electrical connection. I've always loved to baptize people, though I have sometimes wished there were more shimmer and splash involved in the way we go about it. Well, but you two are dancing around in your iridescent little downpour, whooping and stomping as sane people ought to do when they encounter a thing so miraculous as water."

2 comments:

Patricia said...

that is so lovely. i love thinking about different kinds of light.

Unknown said...

oh gilead...just wait for the ending. there are a few pages there where he talks about prayer that are so lovely you will cry