The Dark Night: Clinging to the Cross

Well, I ended the last post on the theme of trusting.  And I think that's always a topic on which more can be said.

One of my favourite paintings is Liberatore's Christ on the Cross.  It hung for a while at the National Gallery.  It now hangs above my bed, or rather a cheap reproduction poster does (sad face).  It shows scenes of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, and in the centre is a breathtaking Crucifixion scene.  One character is rather out of place. See if you can spot who!

St Francis (who was quite definitely not there at the time) is hanging on to the bottom of the cross.  There's a wonderful hymn that has the chorus, "So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown."  Liberatore included St Francis, not only because the painting had been commissioned by patrons with a particular devotion, but also because we are all called to cling to the cross in our daily lives, but especially at times when trusting God seems hard.

It sounds a ridiculous thing but I sometimes hold onto the cross in our cemetery.   It is just too large to hug, but perfect for hanging off and praying.  Sometimes I pray that I could take that cross with me, so that I could always remember why it is that I am trusting in God.  He loves me as He loves each one of us.  And that is the end of the matter.

Part of learning to trust is learning to return that love, not just loving God when He seems to be 'all over me.'  Here's a short poem I wrote after praying in the cemetery.

Old Rugged Cross

His weight holds my being

As we stand side by side,

My arm around His trunk.

As I look beyond

The tips of my fingers work

To hold Him closer, to prevent

His flight, rejoicing

To know that part of Him.

I touch, and to touch

Resolves the view

That was beyond my apprehension.

I turn my neck, and to turn

I leave the view as it is.

The last of my lips seeks Him out

Beyond the touch.

19^th February 2013

Sitting in the kitchen in Douglas instead of Compline

after an evening watching the sun set listening to music

 and praying in the cemetery