...take up his cross, and follow me!

Grant Woods told this story at John McCain's funeral:

When McCain was imprisoned in Viet Nam, after a particular day of brutal questioning, his day guards tied him up especially severely so he would get no rest that night. When they left, his night guard in silence came in and loosened the bonds.

 In the morning before the day guards came on duty, the silent guard tightened them so what he did the night before would not be discovered.

The next day, while McCain was standing at attention in the dirt in the prison yard, the silent night guard with his toe traced the sign of the cross in the dirt.

And at that moment McCain knew he was not suffering alone. There was a fellow Christian walking with him.

We all bear crosses, some far more burdensome than others. Along the way we are to help bear one another's burdens.

We need to be close to the sick and the dying.

Recently on my way from Sedona to Flagstaff, I lingered along the way discovering a park on the rim. Instead of going on to my destination, I turned in, parked, and took Buddy for a walk in the woods.

My cell phone rang.

A neighbor in Scottsdale was dying and asked for me. The best we could do was go on speaker phone.

She recognised me, and I said the prayers for the dying for her.

3 hours later she died at peace.

Had I followed my original plan and drove straight on to Flagstaff, my friends on a mountainside there have no cell phon connection.

Amazing Grace!

And so we pray: 

O God help me

to recognise

those who limp, those who falter,

May I help them

to bear their

crosses.

Amen