In the distance I See a Cross

In the distance I See a Cross

A comment that one caught in a dust storm might say as the wind begins to subside and the sun appears to a frightened man who has lost his way.  The same scenario could be the remark of anyone of us who because of sin has also lost their understanding of what many just took part in the three day Triduum, remembering the Son of God, Jesus Christ, gave himself as a payment for our sins.

Why is the cross such an eye-opener when we see one around the neck of another person or driving in an unfamiliar area and there it is, a large cross atop a large church that seems to be calling to the onlooker.  There is something in this image that wants to get our attention no matter who we are or what our position is in this world of rushing around in a hurry-up atmosphere of reckless activities.  

There is a magnetism of being attracted to an intangible item that has a meaning that invades our senses of wonder and admiration.  Perhaps for some who don't know about Christ and the deeper understanding of our need for forgiveness, these thoughts will not matter.  But the respects of what God did for us from the Incarnation of Christ to the Ascension of the Son of God, this simple artifact of wood, stone, or even a metal fashioned cross around the necks of many will contain more than an image of hope.

Can you imagine driving down a street where every few yards there is a cross in place of a sign with directions to some place.  These crosses are placing a direction to the same environmental existence of grief, pain and suffering, and hope, love, and mercy of our eternal God.  Whichever verb reaches out to you, the obvious result will bring us closer to our God who created us, nurtured our weaknesses, comforted our shame, and destroyed the sins that kept us away from his love.  Find an undeniable facet with more attachment to God than the cross and you will just discover a dream that will not be attained.  

No matter which denomination you believe in, or doctrine you follow, the cross is the only reality that points to a positive action that will outlast time.  When God created everything we see and use, he must have placed a tree that looked just like a cross.  That tree built the manger Jesus was born in, and the same tree that brought the forgiveness of our sins as it stood high reaching up to heaven and supporting our God who died and rose for you and me. 

One question we may ask is, “Lord, how much do you love me?”  When he stretched out his arms and said, “This much I love you.” 

Ralph B. Hathaway