It seems like I’ve had this conversation about 20 times in the past week, and things are starting to click on a new level for me. I wanted to share some of the insights that have led me to deeper understanding of the Cross.

One of the most substantial conversations was one I had that lasted the better part of four hours this morning with the very talented man who will be producing the first video off the new album (appropriately “We Need the Cross”).

The question “what story do you want to tell?” seemed silly at first because it seemed obvious that the Crucifixion and Resurrection are central to our faith as Christians. It turns out that the relevance is not limited to the salvation that the Cross and Resurrection enables. The cross enables resurrection for Christ and for the faithful in a very real and eternal way. What we don’t often think about is that the crosses that each of us bear enable our own miniature resurrections. They allow us to grow, they keep us vigilant, and they unify us. So at the same time that we shouldn’t invite burden or willingly fall into sin, understanding and acknowledging the forces of the cross is a healthy thing.

We grow almost like we’re weight-training for a final climb up the mountain of God. If we learn to handle, avoid, and defeat the little obstacles along our journey, we’re better prepared as the tests of strength get harder and harder. We left easy in the garden.

We’re made vigilant against the larger trials. Anytime I’ve had a lengthy easy-streak it has always ended with a much harder fall because the devil got me when I wasn’t paying attention, I was lulled. Smaller trials keep us paying attention. When you’re tired, sometimes it’s safer to navigate a mountain pass than to drive a straightaway.

We are unified when we remember to maintain healthy relationships; when we remember that others are carrying crosses too. There’s the old parable of the group of people who are allowed to drop their crosses in a pile and choose a different one, but somehow everyone comes back with the one they brought. While that speaks volumes of the types of burdens we end up with, we should remember to help bear that load. We are one body.

I pray that your cross be light on this most joyous and holy day of Easter. The Lord has indeed risen, Alleluia!

UPDATE: Featured in this week’s Catholic Carnival; thanks Sean!