LOL, the supposition is that there was no EO priest by the man alone at the lake. :P

The question then is if a baptism of desire confers something permanent or whether it is transient. Maybe later the man alone at the lake does have access to an EO priest. In EO, I take it he should receive an official baptism from a priest should he get a chance? That would be in line with those in the RC sub who suggested that a baptism of desire confers sanctifying grace, but that this does not confer an indelible mark as baptism from a RC priest would. Thus, if the complete desire for baptism ever ebbed, that man would essentially return to an unbaptized state. Is what you're saying sympathetic to that notion?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.