CARRY YOUR CROSS AND WALK ON

Three sinners were each given a cross to bare.  They began their walk in the footsteps of Jesus.  The crosses were heavy, uncomfortable and the way was long and weary.  They plodded on.


Finally one sinner said, "Lord, this cross is to heavy.  Can you not cut off a small portion at the base and make it lighter for me to carry?"  And the Lord complied and removed a small portion of the cross and the three sinners walked on, carrying their crosses.


The crosses were burdensome and the way was difficult.  Again the one sinner cried out to the Lord.  "Why have you given me such a load to bear?  Can you not remove another small portion of this cross that I bear, that it be lighter?"  Again the Lord heard the voice of the sinner and answered his plea by removing another section of the cross.  The three sinners plodded on dragging their crosses.  The first sinner was not content with his lighter cross and soon called upon the Lord again, to remove another portion of the wooden beam.  The Lord heard his request and again complied.


The second sinner saw that the first sinner had a lighter cross to bear and thinking that it was a good idea to appeal to the mercy of the Lord, cried out, "What about me Lord?  My cross is heavy, too.  Can you not show me the same regard and lighten the load that I carry?"  The Lord answered the second sinner's request and took away part of his load and made the cross less burdensome.  The three sinners plodded on. 


The third sinner continued to carry his load without complaint or recourse, accepting the weight and discomfort he bore,even though his wooden tree was now heavier than that of the other two.  He plodded on and followed the two sinners walking before him.


Soon the two sinners came to a deep ravine and tried to lay their crosses across the deep defile in order to travass to the other side.  Their crosses were too short and would not span the ravine.  They could not cross.


  The third sinner came to the ravine dragging his cross, so heavy and burdensome.  He had not asked the Lord to lighten his load, but chose to bear it without recourse or complaints.  Laying his burden across the ravine and using his cross as a bridge, he was able to attain the other  side.


Do we feel at times that our crosses are way too heavy to carry and shout out, "Why me, Lord...why me?"  Of course we do.  Job did, too, in The Old Testament.  Yet, he kept praying just as we need to do.  No one ever said this life, which is a gift, could not also be taken away.  We continue on, hopefully picking up our own crosses to carry and lay over the abyss.  Is your cross to short to reach to the other side?  I ask this of myself every day and plod on.

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