| Sunny Side Up April 16, 2003 �2003, Kathleen Gibson What does your cross mean? He dashed into the flower shop as I prepared to close for the day. A fair young man, with almost white hair. �I�d like a dozen red roses, please.� �Aha,� I said, opening the cooler door. �On your way to see someone special?� �Yeah, my girlfriend. She�s in Nipawin.� I chose twelve of the nicest scarlets. As I stripped the thorns, gave each flower a fresh cut, and inserted them in water picks, he chattered eagerly about his Mim. I remarked on the unusual name. �She�s from India,� he said. �We want to get married after we graduate from college.� I noticed an unusual cross around his neck. It looked handmade. �Nice cross,� I commented. �Tell me about it.� He did. Told me why it was special, how it was made, how he�d come to own it. I decided to push him�I don�t know why; I�m not always so bold. �But what does it mean? To you, personally. The symbol of the cross�does it have any special significance for you?� His pale skin flushed red as a prairie sunset. He glanced around as though looking for escape. Cleared his throat. Shifted from left foot to right. And finally spoke. Stammered, actually. �Well, uh, yeah.� I was beginning to enjoy the show. �Really? How so?� The young man took a deep, slow breath. And suddenly his demeanor changed. He stood a little taller, looked me directly in the eye. �I�m a Christian. I believe something important happened on a cross a very long time ago. Jesus Christ died there for my sins. That�s why I wear this cross, because it reminds me of that.� I chuckled. �Well done, young man. I�m a Christian too. That was a test, you see. You can save your Bible verses for the next person who asks. They might need them more than I.� He laughed then. We both did, he in relief, and me at his relief. I wear a cross too. A gold one; given me by my sister and brother-in-law as a thank you gift for caring for their three small children during a very difficult time. I value it for that reason. It reminds me of those days�the fears, the hopes, the strengthening of the bonds between my nephews and niece and me. But there�s another reason I cherish the cross about my neck. Like the young man in the flower shop, my cross represents my Christian beliefs. I was born contrary. A sinner in need of forgiveness; searching for meaning and connection with the greatest power in the universe. The cross is the plus sign that connects the power of a Holy God with his rebellious creation. Me. And the sum of those two parts transformed my contrary nature into something fresh and new. All I had to do was love, trust, and obey the Jesus who died on that cross and rose again three days later. If you wear a cross, are you prepared to answer for it? You can respond to this column at [email protected] |
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