Jesus Fish and Dangling Cross

A week ago, I went on a prayer retreat to a retreat center away from any kind of “real civilization.” There were large live oaks lining the main entrance. Deer ran wild through the open fields and sometimes the gardens. They had prayer walks you could go on, or you could just sit on a bench at the edge of a garden overlooking the river. Serenity. Tranquility. Calmness. Quietness. Peace. These are the things I found while away from the world for a few days.

I made a stop in Charlotte for some reason…but on my way back up I-77 I was stuck behind a Jesus Fish and a Dangling Cross. The Jesus Fish was emphatically riding on the tail of the Dangling Cross in front of him. It was apparent that he badly wanted to get by. Finally the Dangling Cross whipped his SUV over when given the chance to allow the truck of the Jesus Fish past. He even was nice enough to motion with his hand that he was allowing him past…then directing his fellow brother toward Heaven he pointed there…with much emphasis. They shared a few edifying words to lift one another up before going on along their way.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” – James 1:22-25

It troubles me that these two men were mirroring to the world, the Christ I follow. My challenge to myself and to all of you…don’t just put a decal on your car or hang a cross from your mirror…actually LIVE out the Christ the you follow.

Ryan