andrew dodson

(These types of posts always worry me a little bit.  I never know what the reaction will be - it could go either way.  I could be seen in a negative light, or plenty of people might agree.  But, I’m interested in your opinion.  Feel free to post a comment!)

I was driving on the interstate a couple of days ago.  I looked over to the side of the road and saw three small crosses planted in the grass - a memorial to crash victims, no doubt.  As I continued my drive, I started thinking about the idea of putting a cross where someone has died to honor their memory and the place of their death.  Sometimes, people just use a stake.  Others, a ribbon around a tree.  I’m sure there are more ideas that have been used.

Should we use a cross as a symbolic memorial of someone’s death?  I’m not trying to sound insensitive with this post, I promise.  I’m just not sure we should use a cross.

Here’s my reasoning:  This past Easter revealed to me how much Jesus’ death on the cross has come to mean to me.  I don’t take it lightly anymore.  The cross is huge to Christianity.  It has become the universal symbol of Christianity.  Even though a person’s death may be tragic, no one’s life or death accomplished what Jesus accomplished through the cross.

Part of me says, if I were to die, I would like to be remembered with a cross.  I would want people to know I was a Christian.  But, another part of me says I haven’t endured what Jesus endured - I wouldn’t deserve a cross as a memorial.  In fact, I’ve done plenty to deserve the cross as a punishment.  If it were up to me, I wouldn’t feel worthy to be remembered with a cross.

What do you think?