Meditation #1: Meditation

I gaze upon a small wooden cross in the palm of my hand. It but a small piece of wood, with eight small cuts to remove each corner. As far as crosses go, simple. There may well be millions, maybe even billions just so across the world. A trinket. Yet, as I gaze I see not this small piece of wood but that terrible cross. That cross upon which the son of man, the son of God was hung.

I see Him. I see his face, wrenched. Blood drips slowly. Sweat forms on his forehead, mirrors the crowds gathered round.

And in that reflection, I see myself. Gazing upward. But what contorts my face? Am I crying in anguish at my Christ, my Lord, my love crucified? Or am I shouting with the crowd: "Crucify! Crucify!"?

Now I cry. For he is the Christ, my Lord, my love, but so often I follow the crowd, I turn away, I walk my own path. But I want to walk in His way, in the Way. So, I continue to gaze. I continue to look to the perfect one. I want to continually look to him. I want to continually be more like Him. I gaze and ask for the grace to be more like him. Christ, take me up to that cross, lead me on that narrow path, take my whole self.

This post begins a series of intentional gazing. I want to be more like that man upon that Cross and so I will contemplate Him and His Way.