And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it … and it was the third hour when they crucified him … and when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” … and Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”  Mark 15:22-39

The dark clouds set the scene

As my heart is stripped bare by this harsh landscape.

My attention drawn. My intention simplified. My passion purified.

The sound of a hammer pushing a nail

Through something indiscernible if not for the cries.

My mind wants to look away

but my imagination had been altered.

You can’t unsee some things.

My mind says “Run! Protect yourself!”

but my heart is drawn to just be with Him.

My mind seeks to analyze the significance

but my heart desires to simply follow.

My mind assures me that I’ll be ok

but heart tells me I’ll never be the same.

As my heart turns pale from being laid bare,

my mind succumbs and finally sees that all things …

every last drop of creation pales in the comparison.

Reflection: See the scene in your imagination. Allow your heart to take it all in. Be careful not to let your mind take over, trying to make sense of it all or sanitizing things to a level that you stay emotionally strong. Watch the scene and let the Holy Spirit minister to you. Is there a way you usually view these events? Let it go and let Him minister in a fresh way. Don’t rush too quickly but linger at the cross today and pay attention to what your heart sees.

Prayer: Father, I don’t have words so I simply sit in silence and take it all in …