The Forgiveness Cross

On the first Sunday in Lent,
We placed a large, wooden cross
At the front of our worship space.
We didn't need another cross, really.
We've got dozens of them already.
Mostly, our crosses fade into the
Fuzziness of familiarity.
We see them so often
We no longer see them.

People have been invited to
Pin pieces of paper to this
New, Lenten addition.
The papers represent
Those we need to forgive and
The things for which we need forgiveness.
I don't know exactly how many
Pieces of paper are currently
Pinned to this cross...
A few dozen maybe?

The number is probably
Not as important as the visual.
Those slips of paper remind
All of us that
We are a people in process.
A people seeking to forgive.
A people seeking forgiveness.
And the cross is both the
Starting point and the
Ending point for the journey.

For four Sundays
I've looked at this cross.
Bearing the burdens of
Hurting people.
Reminding us of the
Power of God
Revealed in
Weakness.

"Father, forgive them
For they don't know
What they are doing."