“He called the crowds with his disciples and said to them ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
Mark 8: 34
Lord, remember that moment yesterday?
I thought of you.
I was arranging the pulpit area at church for our Lenten services.
What was missing?
Then I knew.
The wooden cross with the crown of thorns.
I went to the upstairs storage area and found it.
I picked it up forgetting just how heavy it was.
My arms ached as I dragged it to the top of the stairs.
Ouch! A splinter pricked my thumb.
Slowly I descended, one step at a time, the cross battering on my shoulder with each move down.
When I reached the bottom, I still had 25 feet to drag this awkward, bulky representation of death forward to the front of the church.
That’s when I thought of you.
My minor inconvenience of a simple cross of display compared to the instrument of death for you.
When you carried your cross through Jerusalem, you were already whipped and exhausted.
You edged to an agonizing death with each slow step on the Via Dolorosa.
I imagine your cross was more substantial too, in many ways.
As I lifted the church’s wooden cross and crown of thorns into its stand, I paused and said thank you.
Every time I look at this this season, I will remember the day I dragged its bulky, cumbersome form to the front of the church.
Help me remember how you gave everything for me.
The cross didn’t stop you from living.
With your help, what crosses I am called to bear won’t keep me from Life either.
Isn’t it something that a splinter can stop us in our tracks? Yet he kept himself nailed to the cross. May his love never cease to amaze us! Thanks for sharing this moment, Jean. Even little things like that can lead to thoughts that take our breath away.
The splinter actually came from the crown of thorns hanging on the cross and it was the moment I first tried to move the cross and felt its heaviness that moved me the most. And in reality it was a fairly light in comparison to what Jesus must have carried. I just kept thinking about that….
Jean, I wept as I read your words here today. You made so powerfully present Jesus’ asking us to take up the cross and follow Him, no matter where the splinters of agony may fray us along the way. He has gone before us, made the way clear; as long as we, too, carry the cross. Blessings, and thank you for these words today.
Thank you for your kind words, Martha. It was a powerful moment for me too. Made it very very real
Hi Jean! What a special insight you were graced with! And a powerful reminder meant just for your heart from Our Lord. I know you will be so touched each time you see this as you continue through the Lenten Season.
Blessings,
Ceil
yes it will be a memory that will impact my Lenten journey this year. That splinter hurt! LOL.
Blessings on your week, Ceil
Jean—What a profound and spiritual lesson! Thanks for sharing with us, so we can have insight, too.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Yes it was quite an experience and certainly will make Good Friday deeper for me this year.
Hope you have a terrific week