UNDERSTANDING GRACE
Grace: a word that means everything from saying a prayer before a meal to a common woman’s name. Between those nouns is an idea Paul wrote about so poignantly in his biblical letters. What does this kind of grace mean?
I first began to think about grace when I studied Pauline theology in college, but I really encountered grace experientially as I tried to be an excellent runner. I found that the only way I could truly progress was to learn to run gracefully. Instead of pounding the pavement, I learned to run gently, touch the ground. Instead of churning my arms, I learned to relax and let them guide me along. Instead of pushing every stride, I learned to glide along the track.
In seminary I read and listened to Paul Tillich and began to think of grace as divine acceptance, an experience that transforms our lives when grace flows through the open door of faith. When we are touched by grace, we find a new level of self-acceptance, personal security, and an optimistic, hopeful view of the world.
Later I encountered Quakers who often left a peaceful pause between speakers in conversations or business sessions. It was a touch of grace that transformed relationships and dialog.
In the last ten years I’ve found gracefulness in dancing: how it’s connected to good posture, gentle firmness, clarity of suggestion. Graceful dancing is akin to graceful running. Recently I saw such grace in the movements of Memphis Symphony conductor Mei-Ann Chen as she drew out beautiful music with her arms, gestures, hands, and dance-like movements.
All through the years I’ve encountered many people who express a deep sense of meaning in their encounters with moments of grace. They describe them as experiences of feeling deeply touched, finding clarity, meaning, love. Sometimes I meet someone who seems to have more than moments of grace, but sustained grace. Listening to these grace-filled people is enchanting and inspiring.
Often I counsel a person who is shifting from brief encounters with grace to many of them. Last week I told someone, “I don’t believe we are about healing anymore. Now it’s about changing from single encounters of grace to living in such a way that the light of grace shines upon all you do all the time.”
After she left I thought, “Did I really say that?” Yes, I did, and I think it’s because I myself am beginning to understand that grace can truly change how we view life, how we wrestle with life’s difficulties, even who we see ourselves as. I think I’m beginning to understand grace.