Much of Nouwen’s writing come from a place of suffering. Perhaps that is why he has been able to find such a broad audience. This morning’s reading brought my thoughts to the differing views we as Protestants (and Orthodox) have from those of the Catholics regarding the cross. We tend to stress the resurrection of Christ, thus an empty cross and almost intentionally avoid his suffering and the time on the cross. Lent is forgotten and Easter becomes our time of celebration. Some Protestant traditions even seem to forget Jesus lived and taught and celebrate only the celestial contract he fulfilled for his Father in being sacrificed. The suffering Christ resonates better with the suffering poor than with the rich. They gaze at the cross, with Jesus still hanging on It and say: ‘We are not alone, he is with us’. Both crosses tell an important message. My bed has a memory foam mattress. The mattress is about 6 inches thick, but it condenses to about 2 inches where I lay. My body outline is molded into the mattress most of the day. Happily, The bed is huge and I select a different section to sleep on each night.

 I experienced a couple firsts again today. The little Nissan taxi I rode in had 8 people in it. I was in the middle in the front. Of course, there is no true middle, so I had to be careful not to nudge the gear shift into neutral. The second was a 4-hour church service. The ladies were in charge because it was the last Sunday on the Month of the Femmes. I was still happy to be there.

 Just for Jeannie and Nelia, I’m off to Patience’s home in an hour or so for supper.