If Your Life You Live the Cross
Slowly it reveals itself until one day it is everywhere
If your life you live the Cross, a visible silent prayer
Arms outstretched from a friend before an embrace
Telephone wires across each pole perfectly spaced
Windowpanes displayed in crosshatched multiple
Tree branches crisscrossed looking quite natural
Doorways down a distant hall both left and right
Intersections that catch our breath at a stop light
Applications spread across a computer screen
Mirrored reflections in a ceilings vaulted beams
Bookshelf partitions holding words of human art
As we place an item in the weaved shopping cart
Shadows cast from a basketball hoop and pole
Even tiles across the kitchen floor touch our soul
This is how we know we have found the Cross
Because everywhere we are, the Cross is with us
Above the Cross behind the Altar, the morning sun shining through one of the side windows projected shadows of crosses from the crosshatches of the windowpanes. I was pleased that other people also witnessed the shadows. My imagination went wild as for the next twenty four hours crosses were virtually everywhere I looked. Finally, it dawned on me in one of those duh how stupid am I moments; God was trying to teach you something Jerry. It was a simple but profound moment of recognition. The lesson was not that I could see a cross in everything but rather a statement! No matter where I am and what I am doing Christ is there with me. There are reminders everywhere that I cannot miss, if my life I live the Cross.
For further reflection:
Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSVCE Bible)
The New Life in Christ
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
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This poem above is included in the collection of 40 Christian poems in the The Color of My Heart within the Immersive Prayer website. The poems are also available in book form on Amazon in Paperback or  . All Proceeds go to Charity. |
Additional Thoughts about my Poetry
I believe my writing fits snugly into the category of grounded mystical Christian theology. I have studied, written, and spiritually and physically applied this practical concept in my life for nearly two decades. I have never seen or participated in what some might call a vision or phenomenon. However, I appreciate that they may be a reality for the person or group, and God has provided them with deep consolation. For me, consolation is the beginning of a two-way relationship with God.
My own experiences are more intellectual in nature because I lean toward engineering and science. The reality for me is that God is always present because we are his tabernacles. We constantly miss His surfacing of lighter than a feather touch because we are a physical people. We talk about opening our hearts to this love, but technically, our intellect gets in the way. I have been trying to prove this virtually every day for well over a decade by documenting what I believe are grounded mystical thoughts in various ways.
The tragedy of 9/11 was a significant transformative moment in my spiritual life because of a first hand experience. I am re-dedicating the thoughts and prayers associated with my Christian Poetry to all those affected.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these reflections of the contemplative material of this Web-based ministry? Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Peace,
Jerry
Attributions:
This site has written permission from New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) to use Bible passages.
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