I received this as an email on September 13, 2007.  The images primarily tell the story.  The poem and the quote were a part of the email, but there was no author, nor illustrator, acknowledged anywhere in the email.  If that was the intention of the author, my hat goes off to the creator of the work for his/her humility.  However, if credit simply got sidetracked along the way, I wanted to make it clear that it arrived in my inbox unacknowledged, and I am neither the artist nor the poet of this work. 

I have seen similar illustrations to this used, showing the cross of Christ as the bridge between God and us.  However, since in my philosophical perspective, salvation is an unearned gift of God, I almost did not include this email.  When I chose not to interpret the message here as a "getting into heaven" one, but rather that of simply overcoming obstacles, I was more OK with it.  Even then, I wrestled with the decision because I see nothing wrong with telling God how you really feel about something.  I do it all the time, yet with the constant addendum that I want His will, not mine, made manifest in my life. 

In fact, it was a humorous paradox, while laying out this page, I ran into some problems on a day I was rather tight for time.  After much frustration, I shouted out, "I don't need this [expletives deleted]." Then I had to laugh (since I was alone in the house) as I thought of the subject matter of the work. 

I also agree, however, with a comment John Two-Hawks made regarding it, in that I do not like the impression it gives that our biggest trials are faced alone without the assistance of other Christians who are too busy carrying their own crosses to notice our dilemma . . . or simply do not care. 

But, ultimately, I decided to keep it.  It is also a philosophy of mine that our trials and tribulations are not just random chance.  They have purpose.  How do I know that the car which annoyingly pulled in front of me, causing me to hit my brakes, did not delay me just enough to avoid an accident down the road someplace.  Big stuff or small, I would not worry too much about complaining to God.  If your heart is right, you ultimately leave things up to your Creator anyway.  And, it is really nice to know (or even simply believe) all this stuff is preparing us to be ready and able when the time to use it arrives.