At the Foot of the Cross

Date: March 4, 2022

By Peggy Eastman, Poet-in-Residence

We lay them down at the foot of Your cross, Lord,
all those burdens that slump our shoulders
and slow our steps. How they weighed us down,
like an unwanted backpack of bricks we could
never shrug off. You know what they are,
those brick burdens, Lord:
Insults from the mouths of co-workers;
Betrayals by friends;
Hurtful actions by those closest to us;
False accusations based on lies;
Rejection of our innovative ideas;
Eyes that would not meet ours;
Backs turned to ignore us;
Hands that would not reach out to help us.
The servant is never higher than the Master.
All those burdens You bore for us, Lord,
and so much worse we cannot fathom it.
You invite us to lay our burdens at Your feet.
Pummeled and weary, we finally shrug off
that heavy load we have been carrying.
We kneel before You, overwhelmed with
awe and gratitude. How light we feel, suddenly.
Our shoulders straighten, our step quickens.
What relief, what joy. We breathe deeply,
lift our arms skyward. We could do neither,
weighed down as we were. Lord, by Your mercy
You have accepted our soul-crushing burdens.
By Your cross You have set us free.