"And as I glanced out of the corner of my eye, there stood the figure...the face...serious, but forgiving. He stood there setting aside his personal shame and embarrassment...waiting, simply waiting to be noticed...he stood there...so visible, yet invisible to the many hearts who simply glanced past him...and the humble heart, stumbled upon the symbolic object...."
It's Friday, 4pm somewhere in the middle of a hot-humid summer day. Kids are not in school, rather enjoying themselves at the local beach, rivers, or lakes. Everyone is unaware of the details that sorround our community.
Today, it is one of those Fridays, all entreprenurs, business folks, the typical or average worker is calling it the day. The typical paycheck to paycheck survivors are anxiously driving to their bank to cash in their weekly efforts to better their life. And yet, hidden behind this fast paced scenario is one man. A man, like a shadow perfectly standing there on top of the Montague overpass over the I-26 interstate. Quietly, so concentrated in just glancing through the windshields and into the minds of the unaware souls of his existence. Who is this man? And what is he doing there?
I am one of those passer bys, I capture his image out of the corner of my eye and he stands there, firmly. Lost in a world of his own, deep thought, slightly rubbing his well kept beard. Although it is a hot day, he is standing there with the Sun hitting behind him, making him the perfect invisible being to the eyes of the drivers passing underneath him. But faithfully, religously, he stands there every Friday staring into the distance of the long-rush hour traffic, hoping, and never loosing faith that someone out there will notice IT.
As he stands there so patienly, you can see he has labored so hard to be where he is. Although the Montegue passer bys get distracted, most have become acustomed to seeing him there. His attention however, is on those below him. As the sun blazes behind him, there IT stands, the CROSS. A wooden CROSS that he has so genuinly attached a wheel on the very bottom so that when he is carrying it, it becomes easier on his back and does not drag all the way up the ramp.
YES. He is carrying that cross with a purpose. Perhaps some may consider him a crazy old man. Someone who has nothing better to do, however, it is a simple reminder that regardless of where you are, what you are doing, even if stuck in a mad traffic such as I-26, that you should sit still for a moment and praise God for the wonders He is actively doing in everyone's life. He stands there, not asking for you to throw him money, nor for you to feel pitty or to show off his faith. He is there to give that symbol of peace and sanity.
As anyone who has ever driven on I-26 anytime and any day between the hours of 3pm and 6pm, you can expect to have some angry, frustrated drivers, yet they pause at the sight of such eloquent symbol.
"and so the figure who once had been invisible, the light finally shone upon the meaning of his presence...the light Reflected the one symbol the man was carrying...the CROSS"
Everyone has a cross of their own. We all have our daily struggles and we have to choose how we want to handle the daily tests of faith. Those sudden "burdens" often blind us from the real thing - the CROSS....and learning how to be still before our Maker.
*****this is an interesting note. I have noticed this guy before and always have wondered why he does it. I don't have a picture as there is no way to stop and take a picture because of the constant flow of traffic. However, he is always there. I always thought that he came long distances, yet although I do not have an answer for that, I can almost be certain he parks his car/truck not too far off. it takes true courage to do something that to others would look silly and embarrasing. I am not even sure I could do it....it looks a bit intimidating, but God knows this man is courageous. He might have his reasons behind this, but the most obvious point, he is reminding us of our cross and the True Cross that our father carried to forgive our own sins....it is a reminder that we need to trust on the Lord and let him pull the burdens off our shoulders and give us rest...it is a matter of learning to ask for that Help. It is very humbling seeing this act of pure unselfishness. That he takes his time to carry that huge cross and stand there amongst those many passer bys and their eyes heavily fixed on him and that object of his. IT is indeed a very humbling act.
There, he has made his point with me. I have noticed him and the cross and I have reached out everytime to my own. The man knows what he is doing, although it looks insanely ridiculous. I know where my cross is and I know WHO is in charge.
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