Take up your cross

It probably isn't but it sure feels like a cross. I'm experiencing much limitation by excess pain in my upper left back which radiates into my arm (and no it is not my heart, I'm sure. If it is then you will have to pay your respects sooner than what I would choose; and do not worry Joyce has quizzed me on the usual questions related to pain going down the left arm). I think I'm improving a little or I probably wouldn't be writing this. There are surely lessons that Holy Spirit is seeking to teach me through this time such as humility, dependence, acceptance, mortality to name a few.

Henry Nouwen writes: "Jesus says, "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him (her) take up his/her cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24) Jesus does not say, "Make a cross" or "Look for a cross." Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The cross we have is had enough for us! But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross?
Maybe we can't study, maybe we are handicapped, maybe we suffer from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn't choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them."

I think I understand what Nouwen is saying about accepting these difficulties and hardships, challenges and trials but I might take exception to calling them or thinking of them crosses we are called to carry. I preached a sermon once titled "A Choice Matter" with the main teaching being that the cross that Jesus carried was a cross that he chose to carry. It could have been avoided. So for disciples of Jesus to take up a cross and carry it there must be a choice involved with the cross. Many of our trials, tribulations, testings, difficulties, challenges, etc. are not something we have chosen but rather have happened to us. That is not to say that God and we can't use them to grow spiritually or to make blessings out of them. But I still think that to carry a cross in following Jesus you will make a choice about doing so. That should give you something to think about and apply to your process of soul making.
Joyce and I are headed to NW Iowa this weekend to be with her family and to celebrate her mom's 94th birthday. We look forward to a time away and pray for a safe, good, and fun trip.

Remember: "Do what God says and say what God does"