The Cross in the Dublin Park

Europeans as a rule tend to love their open spaces and have some of the greatest parks in the world. The relatively small spaces where they live...small apartments, tenement housing for 'the common people'....may be why they live in their outdoor spaces. It is so different from the wide open spaces in America. Most of us do not live in cramped quarters and some of our homes are like vacation retreats themselves. 

Terry took us into this grand, green open space called Phoenix Park. It is one of the biggest parks in all of Europe and has all kinds of riding trails, places for picnics, many many athletic fields and more. All of a sudden we came upon this massive cross in the middle of a field. He called it the Pope's Cross, but the formal name is the Papal Cross. 

The cross was built in anticipation of the visit of the (Late) Pope John Paul II. This was in 1979 when he held an open air mass in the park. Over 1.25 MILLION people attended that mass in the park. INCREDIBLE!
Did you know that we have a cross similar to this one in Orlando? It is not for the Pope of course, but it's purpose is to draw people to the cross. It is located on the west side of Orlando, right on the 408 at Good Homes Road...at First Baptist Church of Central Florida. The base of the FBCCF Cross is two stories high and the actual cross reaches 199 feet.

There is just something about seeing a cross like this that brings one back to reality and kind of centers you...well, it does me anyway. 

How are your relationships in life? Vertical, I hope. The relationship between you and Christ is the most important of all relationships.

Wonderful kids at the foot of the 115 foot tall cross

If there was wide open space....they were running! It was always fun to watch the kids when we opened the bus doors! So much energy!

This was such a beautiful park. Had it been warmer, it would have been a glorious spot for a picnic. As we left the park, we passed the Deerfield Residence which is now the official residence for the US Ambassador to Ireland (Since 1927)

There is so much to see in this park that you could spend a wee in this location.
If you ever go to Dublin, be sure to make your way over to Phoenix Park