Old Rugged Cross
In the hymn of the same name, the cross is referred to as an emblem of suffering, referring in the most immediate sense to the suffering of Jesus, who the Bible says was nailed to it and crucified. In the broader sense, it refers to the suffering of those for whom Jesus was said to have suffered, which is all mankind. In that sense I can appreciate it as a sort of lightning rod. Through it you might connect with the suffering of all mankind. The Buddha also taught that we should connect with the suffering of all. The Tibetan teacher Longchenpa said we should have 'unbearable compassion for sentient beings'. So I don't see the cross atop our old disenfranchised church here in Prospect Village as particularly Christian anymore. Instead suffering is all that comes to mind. No matter what we think or believe, we all are familiar with suffering. We could all be compassionate. We could all stretch out our arms and be a lightning rod for suffering. And we could stand firm and uplifted and radiate compassion under all circumstances. That is possible. Even should crosses disappear forever, it would still be possible.
3 August 2020
Texas Jim
Prospect, Nova Scotia
www.granitecoast.ca