Sunday, December 16, 2001

"Scared of a Cross? A Second Opinion!"

Jesus said, "Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:38

Ask me if I'm scared of a cross and, though I've never seen a real one, my first answer will be "Yes!" Tell me a cross back then meant what the electric chair means today and my answer is, "I'm SCARED! Physical pain plus social shame plus D Y I N G is truly unimaginable to me!"

But here is a second opinion about bearing a cross in Jesus' name and for his sake. The opinion begins with what Henri Nouwen told a group meeting at the St. Benedict Center near Madison. "One day I met with some senior staff people of U. S. Senators in the Capitol. We were talking about being Christian disciples when one of the young men asked, "Henri, to follow Jesus, do I have to sell my red Porsche?" Smugly, we waited to hear him answer, "Yes, of course you do." But Henri said, "I told him, 'No'" We gasped out loud in astonishment and insisted he explain.

"If I tell him today he has to sell his red Porsche, he will turn away from Jesus just as did the rich young ruler. Instead, I said to him, "Choose a tiny step to take today; take another tomorrow and another to take each day afterwards." "What about his Porsche?" we clamored. Henri said, "By the time he is called to sell his Porsche, it will be just one more small step in his journey."

Today, I cannot imagine taking up a cross and dying. But as I look back over my witness and service to Jesus, I can see small steps I have taken which, had I seen them earlier, would have looked enormous. So my goal for myself is to take one small step at a time--each one stretching my faith-in-action a little bit more in the direction Jesus is calling me to grow, serve, & witness.

If it should happen I need to take that "last step" to death - a step Jesus and many followers of his around the world have taken, I pray I may have the courage and strength to do so - trusting
in the faith I feel deep in my heart; I gained it from Paul's witness in Romans 8:38-39:

"Nothing in life...or death...can separate us from God's love in Jesus Christ."

May this faith empower you to take your next step from fear to love-in-action!

Myron Talcott

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