The Old Rugged Cross

My thoughts about Good Friday (God's Friday) --- The Cross - It seems that often the cross has become just a beautiful or simple piece of jewelry...and I have two: One that is so shinny and has black stones at the 4 ends. The other is not a polished silver, but has a little purple stone in the middle and a ring around the cross bars.... I've read the words of the well known hymn "The Old Rugged Cross"...here are a few phrases - "The emblem of suffering and shame"..."that old rugged cross, so despised by the world"..."the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine," "To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear"..."the dear Lamb of God (Jesus) left His glory above to bear it (the old rugged cross) to dark Calvary". These words certainly paint a different picture than my necklaces. I wonder if my crosses have weakened the message of this hymn. Maybe not...perhaps when I wear them, a conversation about that "old rugged cross" may begin. Today, the Tuesday after Palm Sunday and just days before Good Friday, is a day to contemplate a cross that was old, and rugged, and blood stained. It held the Creator of the world as He bore ALL the evil of the world...and His Father looked away. But, wait...Here comes Easter!