Are We Running From our Cross or Are We Facing It?

Today as most of you know is Good Friday.

Today the day that Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed, and in His prayer He asked God if it was His will would he let this cup pass (meaning did He really have to go through what He knew was the inevitable) and when God did not respond as such; Jesus said "Not my will, but your will be done".

Shortly, thereafter Jesus was arrested and brought before Pontius Pilate, condemned by the Jews of the synagogue's. Was beaten and on his beaten back was placed a huge cross that He was made to drag through the streets and up the hill to Golgotha (also known as the place of the skull) .

Most of us know the rest of the story as Jesus was laid on the cross His hands and feet nailed to it and when it was raised, His entire body's weight hung from those three nails. While He hung there he was mocked and scorned. People wondered why if He was the Son of God did He not bring Himself down, but He did not. He was doing His fathers will.

He was fulfilling His destiny. He was facing His Cross.

Are we/you Running from our/your Cross or Are we/you Facing It?

At tonight's Good Friday Service Father Porter, of Holy Name of Jesus Church, here in Pocomoke, spoke on this very thing.

He gave an example about the Great Northern Plains of North America. When in the plains one can almost see forever. One can go miles sometimes days depending on your route without seeing another human. But what you are almost guaranteed to see are large herds of cattle, and Bison.

Ranchers say there is a big difference between a herd of cattle and a herd of Bison. The Great Northern Plains have some of the most extreme weather on the planet. In the summer they experience incredible dry heat, and in the winter they can easily get 8 to 14 feet of snow. The snow storms are so strong and so harsh it is a miracle that anything survives them. Storms can be seen coming great distances across the horizon, the sky blackens from afar and the winds begin to blow and the smell in the air changes.

The cattle sense this change, and their instincts tell them to get outta there. As soon as they see, smell and feel the oncoming storm they begin running the other way. They run and they run, sometimes falling of cliffs, sometimes falling and being trampled. Sometimes running so far that the herd gets themselves lost without food or water, but they are alway eventually overcome by the harsh winter storm and ranchers record loosing tens of dozens of cattle each year because of this behavior.

The Bison on the other hand, sees, smells feels, and may even taste the storm coming, but the Bison unlike the cattle hunker down for the oncoming storm. They turn their massive heads into the wind, lock their massive legs against the strong torrents and they ride it out. After the winter is over, so few Bison are lost.

The difference apparent; the cattle run from their problems/storm/cross and the Bison face them.

I gotta be honest I stand up to some really big things in my life and face them head on, but some things get me scared and try to avoid them. But you know what the things I try to avoid are always the ones that jump up and bite me in the butt.

This year, with this new birth of spring the celebration of Christ's resurrection, I'm going to work on facing those things.

Anyway, I thought it was a poignant story and I thought I would share it. I hope all of you can identify areas in your life and face them head on and don't be afraid because God knows who we are, where we live and what we're facing.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Stephanie K. Burke