Ten years ago...

I was attending a meeting in training for a religious weekend just before Easter. Our Head Priest was giving the team an inspirational sermon on love and service. He tied our weekend service to the upcoming Easter Sunday. He pointed out that the true symbol of Christianity is not the Cross, but the empty Tomb, fulfilling the promise of John 3:16 — Everlasting Life. Then he said: “But the problem is – you can’t wear an empty Tomb around your neck.”

My eyes closed, and I saw the most incredible image in the darkness. A simple shining Cross, with the iconic symbol of the entrance to the Lord’s Tomb at the center of the Cross. I was excited, and tried to raise my hand to tell the Priest that he was wrong, you can wear an empty Tomb around your neck.

My arm would not raise, and I couldn’t speak. In silence, I concluded that this had to be a personal, moment closest, spiritual experience. It was not the right time to share the vision.

For the next ten years, I would start to make plans to protect the legacy, and share the vision with others. Something always got in the way. But in those ten years, I learned that I could not make changes to the design of the envisioned Cross. The design shown to me was pure, simple, intuitive, practical, and spiritual. The elemental design of the Cross could now finally be completed, and would carry forward both of the Christian symbols and reminders of the Lord’s death, and the Lord’s resurrection.

--Lawrence (Larry) Salvadori