Trek Of The Cross
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
It was easy to miss the small town nestled between the mountains. The last half century had not been kind to this community. Upon graduation an astonishing 65 percent of young people would move away to attend college or find employment. Most would never return to live in that community. As a result, the majority of the people in that town were senior citizens. Many of the homes were old, in need of serious repair. This community lived without hope, their best days were long past.
Each year on Good Friday the community would gather at 12 noon in front of the Methodist church for the annual Trek of the Cross. The Trek of the Cross would proceed down one street and up another, stopping off at each of the three churches in that small town.
The idea of the Trek was Elmer's. He wanted to do something for the community, knowing that many persons were unable to attend church. Elmer would portray Christ as he had for the past ten years. Not only would he look like Christ, he would walk barefoot through the town. His nephews would play the part of Roman soldiers leading him through the streets. Others would join the procession; some would be wearing biblical garb while others would be dressed in regular clothing. As the Trek got more publicity people from nearby towns would come, some to join in the Trek, others to sit in lawn chairs along the sidewalk to watch. The next morning there would be a somber picture in the local newspaper of Elmer dressed like Christ, complete with a crown of thorns.
The Trek became a special moment for the people living in that community. Elmer's nephew explains, "You could tell instantly that they were reminded at that moment of what had happened."
Elmer portrayed Christ in such a way that persons were drawn to him although he would never draw attention to himself. For several years a young woman in a wheelchair would join in the Trek. Those experiencing personal problems would somehow feel revived after having walked through town with Christ. The Trek became Elmer's visible statement of faith.
On the final stretch before returning to church Elmer noticed Helen sitting on her porch. Helen was suffering from cancer and wasn't expected to live more than a couple of months. When Elmer spotted Helen he did something he had never done before in his ten years of portraying Christ in the annual event. He broke from the guards, walked up to the porch, and embraced Helen. Tears flowed down Helen's face as well as the faces of the others participating in the Trek. "That's what Jesus would have done," someone said later. It did not take long for everyone in the community to learn of this act of love. Everyone was talking about it. This was the real message for Good Friday.
Each year on Good Friday the community would gather at 12 noon in front of the Methodist church for the annual Trek of the Cross. The Trek of the Cross would proceed down one street and up another, stopping off at each of the three churches in that small town.
The idea of the Trek was Elmer's. He wanted to do something for the community, knowing that many persons were unable to attend church. Elmer would portray Christ as he had for the past ten years. Not only would he look like Christ, he would walk barefoot through the town. His nephews would play the part of Roman soldiers leading him through the streets. Others would join the procession; some would be wearing biblical garb while others would be dressed in regular clothing. As the Trek got more publicity people from nearby towns would come, some to join in the Trek, others to sit in lawn chairs along the sidewalk to watch. The next morning there would be a somber picture in the local newspaper of Elmer dressed like Christ, complete with a crown of thorns.
The Trek became a special moment for the people living in that community. Elmer's nephew explains, "You could tell instantly that they were reminded at that moment of what had happened."
Elmer portrayed Christ in such a way that persons were drawn to him although he would never draw attention to himself. For several years a young woman in a wheelchair would join in the Trek. Those experiencing personal problems would somehow feel revived after having walked through town with Christ. The Trek became Elmer's visible statement of faith.
On the final stretch before returning to church Elmer noticed Helen sitting on her porch. Helen was suffering from cancer and wasn't expected to live more than a couple of months. When Elmer spotted Helen he did something he had never done before in his ten years of portraying Christ in the annual event. He broke from the guards, walked up to the porch, and embraced Helen. Tears flowed down Helen's face as well as the faces of the others participating in the Trek. "That's what Jesus would have done," someone said later. It did not take long for everyone in the community to learn of this act of love. Everyone was talking about it. This was the real message for Good Friday.
