Discipleship Directions

There is a sign about 4 miles east of Salem that tells people coming into town where McDonald's is located. It simply says - "turn left at light, then 8 blocks." I admit that it isn't very metropolitan, but we aren't. What caught my eye was that I started visualizing the trip that someone would have to make to get to McDonald's. There was no mention of the numerous roads between the sign and the traffic light. There was no mention of the businesses that were located at the light to assist the potential customer. There was no mention of having to go around the courthouse and the square. There was no mention of having to cross the railroad tracks. There was no mention about Papa John's pizza, Wendy's, KFC, Peking restaurant, Taco Bell or Pizza Hut. It seemed to me that McDonald's assumed that if you wanted to get to there place, you were not too concerned about what it was going to take and even the temptations to stop somewhere else enroute. They assumed that you were committed to getting to McDonald's.

Maybe that is what Jesus had in mind when he said that to be his disciple meant that you had to carry a cross. He didn't discuss all of the hardships. He didn't talk about all the temptations to put it down. He didn't even give all the obstacles that one would face in carry it. He assumed that the disciple (me and you) really wanted to follow him and he just gave us those simple, but unbelievably difficult words, "carry your cross."

May we be faithful.

Sid