The Trouble With the Cross...

My friend and I sat at the front of church, craning our necks to see the pastor as he preached. In between us and him stood a huge wooden cross, newly placed on the altar for Lent. 'I can't see the pastor,' grumbled my friend. I nodded in agreement and slid further down the pew so that my view of him would not be obstructed. After the service, an elderly lady whispered 'that cross is in a terrible place, it's right in the way. I couldn't see the choir.' I agreed with her.
This week, when my friend and I sat together at the front of church, the cross had been moved to the back of the altar. It was no longer a distraction. Now I could focus on the pastor. And that elderly lady could focus on the choir. 
But maybe we are meant to be distracted by the cross. Maybe we are meant to let it come between us, and whatever it is that we want to focus on. Isn't that, after all, the true meaning of Lent...that we let the cross become our central focus, even if it gets in the way of the things that we think are important? 
I am half way through the season of Lent. This is my prayer:
God, put that cross in my way
Let it distract me
Let it disturb me
Let it come between me
And everything that would steal my focus
So that when Easter comes,
I'll be ready.


What is your prayer for the rest of Lent?


Lead Me To The Cross