In the Way of Grace

 

“Put yourself in the way of grace.” Mary Oliver remembers something which Bishop and SSJE brother Tom Shaw said. Put yourself in the way of grace…

As I sit on this dreary, dark winter Monday morning I am amazed not to be consumed with the heaviness or sadness and rather to feel some shimmering of joy. I am able to somehow bask in the glow of Thanksgiving which was practically perfect in all its silly imperfections.

I am aware of how precious simply being together is…all of us. I am aware of how over the course of four days each and every one of us held the newborn Caleb. It felt like passing a chalice from which we all drank and were somehow called back to love. 

And that is the grace of it or in the words above that is putting ourselves in the way of grace. I believe that grace is being poured out and onto and into every single morsel of existence and I believe we might become more aware of that, more appreciative, more intentional.

It takes a pause, a moment, a gesture, albeit small, short, and uncomfortable. 

Sometimes putting myself in the way of grace feels like turning into the wind which drenches me with ocean spray. Sometimes it feels like a trickle falling on my finger from a leaky faucet. And yet whatever the magnitude or refreshment quotient, grace is grace. Mysterious, miraculous, transformative and sustaining.