Grace Again
“Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls, not knowledge nor reason.” – Pope Francis
In the Thornton Wilder play, The Skin of Our Teeth, when the main character George Antrobus is asked what he has lost, he says “the desire to begin again,” noting that it’s the most important thing in life. Each day and every day, we have the opportunity to begin again.
Oftentimes, we allow a few “bad” moments to take our entire day or even week hostage. When we honestly reflect on those days, we realize that there was so much more good in them, but we let the bad trump the good.
By the end of Friday, I had a series of encounters with people demanding me to do what they wanted because it was the most important thing ever. And instead of letting it roll off my back, I let it get to me. 24 hours, a seven mile run and the gift of grace put the “world” back into proper order. And despite the critics, I am going to begin again.
A few definitions of grace include “beauty of form” and “unmerited favor of God.” It’s both really – God giving you the ease and strength to maintain your beauty of form when you don’t feel like it at all.
Grace is the ability to be quiet instead of reacting with our first selfish thought. To choose light over dark. To edify rather than criticize. To let others do what they do and not let it sway your resolve. To let go of the need to be right. It’s a real change of heart that allows us to choose compassion, empathy and love when it’s counterintuitive. It’s aligning our thoughts and heart with our actions. And in order to do all of this, we need the gift of grace and the peace that passes all understanding to intervene to make the seemingly impossible, possible.
Grace comes again to save the day.
What a wonderful explanation of grace! I copied it for my desktop. It’s very encouraging and inspirational. Thank you.
Thank you. I’ve thought a lot about grace lately and tried to make it more concrete. I’m just glad to receive the gift of it daily.
After reading your response, this is the thought that came to my mind.
You receive grace and by sharing it, you increase it not only in yourself, but in others, like you have, and did for me today.
It is like all gifts from God. They are meant to be passed on and shared. By doing so, we never lose them, but continually increase them.
Is God good or what?
Absolutely good! Have an awesome day and thanks for engaging.
Great piece. Thanks.
Grace goes beyond ability.
Grace is the evolutionary impulse that gets you to lace up your shoes for one more run.
Well said – thanks
This is a beautiful explanation of grace. I’m going to re-blog as it fits in perfectly with my hope that we can be grateful for the highs in life and graceful in the lows of life. Val x
Thanks so much and beautifully stated – grateful and graceful!
I read your post at Val’s blog — and she lead me here. I’m so grateful for the thread. I look forward to following your journey.
Thank you – it’s great to connect.
Reblogged this on Find Your Middle Ground and commented:
This is a beautiful definition of grace.
Be grateful for the highs in life.
Be graceful in the lows.
Val x
Thanks!
Reblogged this on alaskasretrievers.
Letting go of the need to be right is such a pervasively destructive element of our world today. Truly, grace…..the product of unconditional love….is the only thing that can bring about lasting change. Thank you for a lovely post.
Thank you for sharing your insights.
I seriously needed to read this today, as someone who has expected a lot out of a close friend recently. will bookmark this post for future reference 🙂
Thanks -I really needed to write it to make sense of it all.
I especially love your second to last paragraph. It is a beautiful definition of grace.
Russ
Thank you – appreciate it.
I have just started following your blog. I love the way you share glimpses of your heart and spirit through your writing. I’ve written and indie published several books and am now compiling collections of selected stories by many of my favorite writers that I’ve discovered in the blogosphere for two anthologies. One is non-fiction filled with positive-slice-of-life, inspiring, up-beat, and humorous stories. The other is fiction mystery, thriller, action, and suspense focused. I’d love to have you participate in one or both of these projects. Please let me know if you would like to hear more about what I have in mind. I can be reached at russtowne@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Russ
Grace (respect for others) and dignity (respect for myself) are two things I strive for in my own current personal crisis. I love your description of grace in the second last paragraph.
I found your blog by way of Russ Towne’s blog and am so appreciative he led me here. You’ve reminded me that each day is my own to begin again over and over. It’s my choice. Thank you.
Thanks – we all need reminding.
Hello, Fellow Blogger, You Have Been Awarded, The Angel Award. For More Information, Please Click On The Link Below:
http://poemotherapishoppe.com/2014/04/05/the-angel-award-from-don-charisma/
Thank you so much – I really appreciate.
You are so very welcome!! Thank you for all of your encouraging light!! 🙂 Blessings
Previous Popes alienated me from my Catholic upbringing, and I probably won’t return to any religion in this lifetime. But if I did, it would be because of Pope Francis. He is the best Pope ever!
Good for you and the 7 mile run, and for grace; that utter feeling of peace…
Loved reading this; it reminds us all of our humanity, and the need to be still…
Thank you. Stillness brings clarity.