When I look down, it's right-side up

Most days, when I'm not wearing some other neck-based accessory like a tie, I like to wear a small, upside-down cross on a chord around my neck. It's made of pewter, and bears a simple, elegant design on its face. I bought it from a small independent jeweler in Florida, and it has become one of my most cherished possessions, despite its humble appearance and low monetary value.

As you might imagine, wearing an upside-down cross has led to a pretty wide range of reactions from the strangers that I have interacted with while doing so. Many do not know the symbol's meaning, and have become offended or even upset when they see the humble pewter hanging there, thinking that I am being somehow disrespectful to the Christian faith (though when I had the chance to meet archbishop Desmond Tutu a few years back, he knew what it was right away). 

​The more open-minded and curious observers, however, have taken the more reasonable approach and asked me, "Hey, why is your cross upside down?" To break any tension there may be between us, I often smile and reply, "Oh, because that way when I look down, it's right-side up!" We share a little laugh, and then I explain the real reason I'm wearing it. My upside down cross is not offensive or disrespectful toward the Christian faith. On the contrary, what I wear around my neck is actually the cross of Saint Peter.

In Christian legend, Saint Peter was visiting the faithful in the city of Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero. He was in the city during the Great Fire of Rome, which burned for six days and caused massive devastation and damages. The fire was blamed on the Christians and used as an excuse to begin the first large-scale persecution of Christians by the imperial Roman government. As a result, Peter fled the city, fearing his imminent execution.

As Peter was on the road, the story goes, he saw a vision of Jesus carrying a cross and walking back toward the city. Peter asked him, "Quo Vadis?", Latin for "Where are you going?" The Lord replied to him, "I am going to Rome to be crucified again," which gave Peter the courage he needed to go back, comfort his brothers and sisters in captivity, and face his own martyrdom. He was, as one could expect, captured and sentenced to by crucified, whereupon he made a remark that to die in the same manner as Christ was an honor of which he was not worthy, and so the Romans chose instead to crucify him upside down.

 Now of course, invariably when I'm sharing this story with others, I let them in on a little private joke I have, which is I think Saint Peter was secretly a genius. I mean, if you're crucified upside down, all the blood will rush to your head and you'll pass out before the worst of the agony! If you're going to be crucified, that's probably the way to do it ;)

But jokes about brutal executions aside, I have always consciously worn this symbol for an educational purpose. I seek, little by little, to reclaim the symbol, and by sharing Peter's story with others I'm feel as though I am fighting ignorance and keep the tradition alive. It is of little surprise to me that in this new age, when the core tenets and true theology of Christ are so poorly understood, many angry and foolish people have taken to displaying the upside-down cross in an attempt to mock the church, or display their anti-religious sentiment. All I can do is chuckle to myself, as I know that they are instead spreading an ancient Christian symbol, and keeping the example of Saint Peter alive for me. This is generally what I would call the "real" answer to the question, "why is your cross upside-down?"

But lately, I've realized that there's more truth in my little tension-breaking joke than I might have thought. When I look down, it's right-side up. I picked the cross of St. Peter because in many ways I've always empathized with the man. Peter is just a tad bit headstrong,  arrogant, and full of himself. He tends to think that he has it all figured out, just before the Lord shows him that he's not quite there. His heart is in the right place, and he's earnest in his desire to do the right thing, but he just doesn't always know how.

Saint Peter's cross acts as a reminder to me to be a little more humble when I think I have it all figured out. When I try to look down on someone for thinking differently than I do, there's the cross staring back at me. If I try to look down on someone less fortunate than I am, there's the cross staring back at me. If I try to look down on someone because I think I'm better than they are, there's the cross staring back at me. When I look down, it's right-side up, and I am very grateful for that.

​Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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