At the Foot of the Cross

若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。 (马可福音8:34)
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mark 8:34)

Our early youth is like a flower at dawn with a lovely dewdrop in its cup, harmoniously and pensively reflecting everything that surrounds it. But soon the sun rises over horizon, and the dew drop evaporates; with it vanish the fantasies of life, and now becomes a question whether or not a person is able to produce a drop that may represent the fruit of his life. This requires, above all, that one be allowed to growth in the soil where one really belongs, but that is not always so easy to find. In this respect there exist fortunate creatures who have such a decided inclination in a particular direction that they faithfully follow the path once it is laid out for them without ever prey to the though that perhaps they ought to have followed an entirely different path. There are others who let themselves be influenced so completely by their surroundings that it never becomes clear to them in what direction they are really striving ... but how few there are in the former group, and to the later group I do not wish to belong. (quoted from somewhere)

Our faith in early youth is simple and pure. We are willing to deny ourselves and take up our cross and leave everything to follow Jesus, because we are holding on the promise of salvation that He is the way, the truth and the life. Yet someday, when we have realised that the costs of following Jesus are too much to bear; or when we have realised that perhaps our dreams and visions are too idealistic that it will never be fully realised; or there are certain trials or incidents or sins that has broken our lives and has left us with a scar, our heart will become heavy-ladened and will grow cold, and we want to give up. This is a sign of getting older, where we have gradually lost our dream, our vision and our hope for God. We are wavering, and sometimes we will become a chrisitan cynics.

At the foot of the cross, where I kneel in adoration,
and I lay my burdens down;
I exchange all my sin, for the promise of salvation,
and Your name across my brow.

At the foot of the cross, I give up my vain ambition,
and I leave my selfish pride;
In the peace that is there, will you restore my vision?
In all the places I am blind.

I will wait here at the cross

At the foot of the cross, there is healing for this nation,
there is rest of those wait
And the love that we find is the hope of all creation,
we are stunned by what You gave

We will wait at the cross, a hungry generation,
with our broken hearts and lives;
Will You hear? Will You come? Will You fill our desperation?
O God let this be the time

We will wait here at the cross.

他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说，我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。...第二次又去祷告说，我父阿，这杯若不能离开我，必要我喝，就愿你的意旨成全。(马太福音 26:39, 42)
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will... He went awaya second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.' (Matthew 26:39,42)

May He continue to grant us faith to take up the cross and follow Him. May His will be done.