Jesus On Ice . . .



Crucifix in the LA Cathedral - R. Marczynski

About 20 years ago I made a Cursillo (meaning "short course"), part of a Catholic movement started in Spain to help Christians “revive” and recommit themselves to their faith.  The movement has spread to other denominations, referred to as “The Walk,” or “The Great Harvest.” 

In very simple terms, a Cursillo is an intense 3 day weekend retreat with a series of talks and activities given, for the most part, by lay leaders. I noticed, and was struck by the fact, that as each leader spoke, he held a Crucifix.  It seemed as though by clutching that Crucifix the speaker gained a greater sense of confidence, purpose and peace as they spoke.  At the close of the Cursillo weekend each participant is presented with a small Crucifix.  I carried mine in my pocket where I could feel it throughout the day (I swear sometimes it “poked” me when I was about to do something wrong!). 

A few months after making my Cursillo, a close friend faced a very serious personal and professional crisis that was breaking him.  I told him the story I related above and gave him my Crucifix to carry, hoping it would give him some peace.  My friend and his family made it through the crisis stronger than ever.  I bought another one and we traded, but each of us continued to carry our Crucifix daily. 

A couple years later he told me that it was his habit that when coming home from work each day, he would empty his pockets and put the contents in a little “letter holder” they kept on the top of their refrigerator.  One morning when he went to get his stuff, he noticed his Crucifix was missing.  He and his family looked around on top of the refrigerator, on the floor, in his pants, in his closet, but could never find it.   A few months later, they were cleaning and defrosting their freezer and there it was - the ice covered Crucifix buried in the back of the freezer.  Obviously, it had somehow fallen out of the letter holder and into the freezer without anyone noticing.  We referred to the experience as putting “Jesus on Ice.”

In a similar vein, one day on a family outing, I reached into my pocket and I couldn’t feel my Crucifix.  It was strange, but I became panicky.  After I made the whole family look for it for about a half an hour, we called off the search.  I took some solace hoping that maybe someone who “needed” it more than I did would find the Crucifix and it would help them through whatever struggles they were facing.  I simply bought another one. 

Over the years, I have lost several Crucifixes and have given some away.  After a while it can be expensive, and time consuming since there isn’t a Crucifix store on every corner, so I took to hooking one on my key chain, but somehow it just wasn’t the same.  So I went back, as often as I could, to carrying one in my pocket.  If I lose one I always hope that whomever finds it will gain the confidence, purpose, or peace that they may need. 

Even though I don’t spend my days paying much attention to it, simply throwing my Crucifix on my desk with the rest of my pocket trash;  it is nice to know that, like my friend,  I have “Jesus On Ice.”   I just need to remember that when I need a little extra boost, I just need brush off the lint from my pocket or let it thaw out and He’s still there – just for me. 

Next time you see a crucifix, think about this postcard and always remember, “Jesus loves you, but He still likes me best!”

Gotta go, I have to look for something.