Vicar's View

October 2007

Every time we go somewhere with our 6 month-old it is an adventure; our first time visiting Holy Redeemer certainly was no different. I wanted to hold Kirk the entire service because I knew I would rarely get the chance to worship with him once my official duties began the following week. Like a lot of things that are important to you right now in your life, my son demands a great deal of attention when he is placed squarely on my lap. My universe shrinks to the task at hand. Often times, and justifiably so, we keep our heads down and stay focused on whatever it is we have chosen to do. This is what it was like with Kirk in worship. I glanced up occasionally to see Pastor Brenda spread her arms over communion or to see someone reading. I also remember seeing two beautiful stained glass columns near the altar, but that was about it.

When I walked into the Nave the following Monday (without Kirk obviously), I nearly lost my breath at what I saw. Standing there in the middle of the altar was a 12-foot tall, dark brown, wooden cross. "How do I miss that?" I asked myself. It was tucked in between the two radiant columns of light. I rationed to myself that in the juxtaposition of the light of the windows and the darkness of the cross, I must have let the cross fade into the background of the wall and I missed it completely. But how could I do that? I walked up to the massively tall cross and put my hand on its coarse texture. I prayed to God to simply say "thanks" for giving us Christ in the world, an ever-present source of hope in our darkness.

Friends, I implore you; the next time you catch yourself immersed in something, even those activities that have great merit, try not to miss the cross in your midst. Take the time to recognize Christ standing before you: whether it's a neighbor who needs some help on a project, a broken relationship that needs restoring, or the simple comfort of God's presence. The cross of Christ is with you always!

Vicar Craig