“Carry Your Cross”
Based on by K.A. Phinney
There once was a man who was feeling very, very overwhelmed with his life and his division of burdens. He was consumed by the thoughts that his burdens were too heavy, too large, and too difficult for him to carry, and he was very upset with God for giving him a cross that he just couldn’t possibly bear.
At night, he’d tell God, “God, I can’t possible carry this cross anymore! My burdens are too much, too heavy, too large. It’s just too difficult for me, God. And I’m tired.”
And then he would wait and wait, but God just didn’t answer.
So the next day, the man was grumbling and waiting for his bus on the park bench when he overheard a woman explaining to her friend that there was a cross shop that specialized in burden replacement just around the corner. The man couldn’t believe his ears.
“Finally!” he thought. “If God doesn’t want to free me from my burdens, then I will.” So off to the cross shop he trekked, leaving the two chatting woman and the bus stop behind.
When he entered the shop, a friendly elderly man greeted him.
“Hello, Son. Can I help you?”
“Well, yes,” the burdened man replied. “This here cross I am carrying is too much for me to handle. It’s too heavy and too large. I hear you can help me with replacing it…”
“Well, of course I can. Just turn in your cross up here at the return counter, and then take a look around to find a new cross that you feel is just right for you. When you find it, bring it on up to the check out, and I’ll get you on your way.”
“That’s all?” the man thought to himself. So he left his cross with the elderly man and ventured through the aisles of the shop. Here and there, he would pause to closely examine a cross that caught his eye. One was flashy but much heavier than his last cross. Others felt lighter but were much too large, while others were both larger and heavier than the one he brought in to be rid of. So on and on it went like this until he noticed a cross hanging on the front wall he hadn’t noticed before.
He approached the cross and took it down from the wall. Compared to the others, it seemed lighter and smaller, although he couldn’t be sure. He inspected it carefully, practiced carrying around the burden in the shop, and finally determined it would do.
At the counter, the old man watched and waited patiently. “Do you think you found the cross for you?”
“Yes, I think I have. Of all the crosses in your store, I think I can deal with this one best. The other ones are too big.”
“Are you sure?” the old man asked.
“Why, yes.”
The old man gave a knowing nod and smiled. He leaned over the counter and looked his patron in the eyes. “Son,” he said, “the cross in your hands now is the very one you came in with.”

Thursday's Thoughts

These are some thoughts our priest said at Mass the day before my birthday. I thought they are worth sharing:
-God won't ask what kind of car you drove, He’ll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
-God won't ask the square footage of your house; He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
-God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet; He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
-God won't ask what your highest salary was; He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
-God won't ask what your job title was; He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.
-God won't ask how many friends you had; He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
-God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived; He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

-God won't ask about the color of your skin; He'll ask about the content of your character.