Today we visited the Iron Cross, la Cruz de Ferro, where pilgrims from all over the world bring stones from home to place at the foot of the cross.
Last year some were disappointed that I didn't bring anything from Ohio to place at the cross. But I carried with me instead the stones that Randy had brought with him. And because of time constraints wasn't able to take them to the cross himself. (Read last year's blog post here.)
This year, however, Rand had the idea to bring something special to the cross: an Ohio buckeye. I had given him one last year for his birthday as part of his "get to know Ohio" gift. And he thought it would be fitting to bring it to the cross. Together.
We also brought with us a bracelet that read "Team Jeremiah" and "Fight Against Leukemia" for a very special 9-year-old boy in Ohio. He is not only facing something more difficult and painful than I can even imagine, but he is doing it with a positive attitude and a learning mind. It is this kind of child-like faith and curiosity that will lead to a cure.
Bringing something from home to this place is a way to symbolize our collective journey, as well as what we individually bring to the table. Perhaps last year I wasn't convinced that I had something worthwhile to contribute. Maybe it took Randy and the faith of a little boy to show me otherwise. Because this I know to be true: we all matter.
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