Crosses In My Office

Our building is going through a much needed renovation. As a part of that renovation I moved to a new office. It is the biggest one that I have ever had and I had a whole blank wall to fill. I wanted to find something special to put there. I have never been one to use crosses to decorate. In some ways it seems wrong to use so holy an object as a decoration. But when I was looking for something to hang I found all these beautiful metal crosses. I was just drawn to each one.


So there are now 9 crosses on my wall. The one in the frame is made of nails and the verse beside it is Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord. Even though this was something very different for me I think that I was drawn to each one. I want my office to be a place that is powered by the love of Christ and the cross is the strongest symbol for that love. As I walk in each day and come back to my office after going to class I want to see this wall and be reminded in a powerful way of Christ' love. I think about how Jesus can take something so horrible, like a cross, and make it something beautiful, like these crosses. I want every student and friend that walks in that office to know that they are loved.

This morning during my prayer time I found this prayer from the Puritan Prayer book that my son gave me.

At the cross that relieves my conscience
let me learn lessons of self-denial, forgiveness, and submission
feel motives to obedience
find resources for all the needs of divine life.

Then let me be what I profess
do as well as teach
live as well as hear religion.

It is amazing how these words written 200 years ago so perfectly express what I feel now. Oh Lord may I always be drawn to your love that was shown through the cross.