My new Son-in-law is new to this Catholic thing and the sign of the Cross is very strange to him. Since he is a high school baseball coach I have tried to expllain it as a signal from catcher to pitcher. He still isn't biting. He is just watching for now.
He shouldn't. The Sign of the Cross isn't a way of "dialing God's phone number"; it's a reminder that we too must be crucified like Christ; that as members of the Mystical Body we embrace and rejoice in our crucifixion in Christ:
Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
1 Cor 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1 Cor 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.