Dear Simon…

Dear Simon,

Did you know what was going on when you were grabbed and forced to bear the weight of the cross? Surely you put the pieces together. That the man in front of you, back bleeding and body broken, was marching towards his death. Did your eyes meet his? And if they did, did you notice the grace in his gaze? Did you see yourself when you looked at him? Did he say anything to you? Even a whisper amongst the shouts of the crowd? Could you tell he was innocent? Or did you believe him to be a criminal meant to die a criminal’s death? 

I wonder how often it happened. How often were bystanders from the crowd forced to carry a cross for a criminal? How often did someone bear a cross that they did not hang upon themselves? No matter how often, you were one of them. You bore a cross that you did not hang on. You carried a weight that another took for you. 

The cross represents the crucifixion, it means death. And we are told to bear our cross and follow Jesus. And you, Simon, were the literal and physical example of it. While you were forced upon it, to bear our cross today is a choice we make daily. It can be hard. It can be painful. But in the end it is more than worth it. For while we carry our cross and follow Jesus, we are following him from death into new life. 

I know the weight of the cross was forced upon you. You didn’t make the choice. But I have. And so, thank you, Simon. Thank you for being a physical example that  I can picture in my mind, as if I was the one carrying the cross that day. I’m sure the weight would be too heavy. My steps would grow slow and less steady. But it’s a reminder to keep my eyes forward despite the storm I may be passing through, to keep my gaze focused on one thing and one thing only: Jesus.