Another classic version of grace is the parental analogy. God as parent and us as Children of God. Given the way we love our children no matter what makes this a reasonable analogy.
However, my bring polyamorous has gifted me with a different analogy, the love between lovers. The feeling that this wonderful person, with no obligation whatsoever (unlike a parent), sees me as wonderful and worthy, despite all my flaws, is for me the experience of divine grace.
I was brought up Roman Catholic - 13 years of parochial school - so I am aware of this interpretation of grace, but I also have, through my life, been steered to the clergy and others who see it very differently (that experience of being “steered” could be called moments of Grace, too).
I also am profoundly influenced by Anne Lamott’s views on Grace (and cling - especially these days - to the hopeful sentence, “Grace bats last.”)
Neither worthiness nor unworthiness enter into it for me. Grace is like little miracles, kisses from the Divine (or what some - not me - would call “coincidences”).
A few weeks ago our friend Rev. @Mike Kinman was preaching at a wonderful little church in Altadena. There was a lovely breakfast reception afterwards. I fell into a wonderful conversation with him and a woman who I met 30+ years ago and, who, whenever I have encountered her over the decades, is always holding some little nugget of Grace for me. Something I need to hear. Without fail. She’s like a “deputy angel” in my life. And not by intention, on her part. At all. I just know to pay attention, when we encounter each other. This time was no different.
That you are doing your summer class right now, is a moment of Grace. The timing is magical.
That you posted this is also a gift of Grace. I am struggling on all kinds of levels, these days: financial (I’m afraid of losing my home that I love), health (physical and psychological), and in the past two months, some great losses of 3 people who are dear to me. And my Maltipoo, Sugar, is not eating and I’m afraid. Not to mention what is happening in this country. There have been some “dark nights of the soul” including self-destructive behaviors. And here you are with this post igniting a profound need to respond and in so doing I get to examine the moments of Grace in my life, which is an experience of Grace in it’s own way.
Am I worthy? God seems to think so, who am I to decline a gift 💝 from the Divine?
P.S. This is my 3rd attempt at a response. One posted before I could finish it and I could not figure out how to delete it. Another disappeared entirely, as I was composing it. As frustrating as that has been - and it has been - maybe that was a moment of Grace, as well. Having to examine (and thereby recognize) my experience of Grace in life. Did I say “maybe?” I guess Grace can also appear as a thump on the head, too… 😊
Another classic version of grace is the parental analogy. God as parent and us as Children of God. Given the way we love our children no matter what makes this a reasonable analogy.
However, my bring polyamorous has gifted me with a different analogy, the love between lovers. The feeling that this wonderful person, with no obligation whatsoever (unlike a parent), sees me as wonderful and worthy, despite all my flaws, is for me the experience of divine grace.
I was brought up Roman Catholic - 13 years of parochial school - so I am aware of this interpretation of grace, but I also have, through my life, been steered to the clergy and others who see it very differently (that experience of being “steered” could be called moments of Grace, too).
I also am profoundly influenced by Anne Lamott’s views on Grace (and cling - especially these days - to the hopeful sentence, “Grace bats last.”)
Neither worthiness nor unworthiness enter into it for me. Grace is like little miracles, kisses from the Divine (or what some - not me - would call “coincidences”).
A few weeks ago our friend Rev. @Mike Kinman was preaching at a wonderful little church in Altadena. There was a lovely breakfast reception afterwards. I fell into a wonderful conversation with him and a woman who I met 30+ years ago and, who, whenever I have encountered her over the decades, is always holding some little nugget of Grace for me. Something I need to hear. Without fail. She’s like a “deputy angel” in my life. And not by intention, on her part. At all. I just know to pay attention, when we encounter each other. This time was no different.
That you are doing your summer class right now, is a moment of Grace. The timing is magical.
That you posted this is also a gift of Grace. I am struggling on all kinds of levels, these days: financial (I’m afraid of losing my home that I love), health (physical and psychological), and in the past two months, some great losses of 3 people who are dear to me. And my Maltipoo, Sugar, is not eating and I’m afraid. Not to mention what is happening in this country. There have been some “dark nights of the soul” including self-destructive behaviors. And here you are with this post igniting a profound need to respond and in so doing I get to examine the moments of Grace in my life, which is an experience of Grace in it’s own way.
Am I worthy? God seems to think so, who am I to decline a gift 💝 from the Divine?
P.S. This is my 3rd attempt at a response. One posted before I could finish it and I could not figure out how to delete it. Another disappeared entirely, as I was composing it. As frustrating as that has been - and it has been - maybe that was a moment of Grace, as well. Having to examine (and thereby recognize) my experience of Grace in life. Did I say “maybe?” I guess Grace can also appear as a thump on the head, too… 😊