Crossed Purposes

What do you think Christ meant when he instructed his followers to 'pick up your cross and follow me'? It sounds like he expected them to suffer. Why would a good man want his followers to suffer? And how does one pick up one's cross, as it were? The answer to both questions lies in answering the second one. Humans spend a great deal of time escaping discomfort through dishonesty. When truth troubles or hurts them, they simply pan it, often in favour of a custom made lie from the TV or some other commercial source. To face unpleasant truths is to subject oneself to suffering; it is to pick up a cross of punishment. Christ had special knowledge of the afterlife. He knew that this life, with all its pain, is only passing. By suffering for truth in this world, we may escape suffering in the next, more permanent living arrangement. Conversely, by trying to escape suffering for truth in this world, we may have to face it for all eternity at the end of our time on Earth. He believed this so profoundly that he let himself be crucified here. A few hours on the cross bought him eternal glory. Pretty good deal. (The cross also can be seen as a letter 't' for 'truth', but that's only effective for Anglophones.) While those violators may curse me now for getting them into trouble over their crimes, they may actually be grateful to me when they come to the end of their lives. My siblings, in particular, love my parents and do not want to lose them. By suffering punishment for their sins in this life, the door is open for these brothers of mine for a glorious reunion with their dearly departed when their own time comes. On the other hand, God doesn't seem to have let George Carlin have this opportunity. There are still a few bitter Carlin fans out there, and I would submit that their bitterness belies the torment passed on to them from their late hero in his new, permanent location.
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© 2013. Statements by David Skerkowski. All rights reserved.