Carrying The Cross

FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY maintains that either God, the son of God, or both, depending upon one's particular brand, was tortured to death to atone for the mistakes of everyone, on the condition that those receiving atonement must worship him. Those who do not meet this requirement, no matter how otherwise virtuous, are simply out of luck. We pay a price for assistance, usually. Images of the instrument of torture and death became a defiant icon in an upstart religion, and eventually ubiquitous. People brandish crosses on necklaces, on bedroom walls, and on public property, illegally. The especially devout sometimes associate special powers with the cross, others report than wearing one is too painful, too great a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made. The loftiest level of cross bearing, arguably, is reserved for those few, proud, intrepid souls who drag large wooden crosses, often as large as ten feet long, down the sidewalks and highways of the world, with shopping cart wheels attached, which saves much labor and the wear and tear sanding down. Presumably they wish to draw special attention to the sacrifice, to remind people that they should not forget. One man has being doing it for thirty years or more, on all continents except Antarctica. He's put in a reputed one hundred thousand miles, and is reportedly in great shape,which excellent lower body definition. A have a friend who does this, a seventy seven year old who has also been on the holy trail for decades, with less mileage but equal enthusiasm. He stores his cross in the back of his van, always ready for action. On his bumper is a sticker with the words "God bless America" crossed out, and the words "America bless God" adjacent to the incorrect version. My cross bearing friend has severe diabetes, and part of both his feet have been amputated, but that doesn't slow him down. Defiantly he wades with his symbol of death and redemption into crowds at motor cycle rallies, rock concerts, and other ostensibly unsuitable venues, immune to the verbal abuse and occasional threats handed out. He says he is willing to die for the cause. He could provide the ready made means, relieving Jesus of the burden of one, and only one soul.