"TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME"

Jesus was not necessarily advocating suffering, but He was saying, “Do not deny life. Yes, it will have its difficulties and problems, don’t run from them. They are your lessons and the Father will aid in your dealing with them. You are not alone.”

Christ In Training is not about suffering. God knows there is enough suffering in the world, you do not need to create more or glorify it.

Embrace it, yes, but these two messages “Take up your cross and follow me” are not cause and effect. Many people think that the quotation reads, “Here is how you shall follow me buy taking up your cross.” That’s not it.

Take up life, embrace life with all of its joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure. It is all real; it is all a part of things; it is all learning. As you learn, take My lead Jesus says. Flow. Take time to pray and meditate in quiet places. Be in touch with the Father, open to the laws of love and forgiveness.

Even though I was taught about right action, and being charitable, much of my earlier learning about Christianity was about suffering here on earth and being rewarded in heaven. I remember a line from a prayer we used to say after Mass. It described life as a journey of “mourning and weeping in the valley of tears.” Wow. So much for enjoying life. I don’t think we are being asked to bypass life, but to live it with all its ups and downs.

Learn to embrace; learn to accept; learn to love.