Grace: Make it Happen!

Do good things happen in your life for no reason?  Have you received something beneficial by chance, luck, or serendipity? What role have others played to enable you to experience something wonderful?

A familiar story told by many preachers goes something like this:

A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a someone in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and God is going to save me.” So the rowboat went on. Then a motorboat came by. The person in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.” To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and God is going to save me. I have faith.” So the motorboat went on. Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.” To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and God is going to save me. I have faith.” So the helicopter reluctantly flew away. Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”  (source: http://truthbook.com/stories/funny-god/the-drowning-man)

It’s a humorous story.  More importantly, it helps to illustrate a tendency among people of faith:  to expect a certain kind of magic when it comes to prayer, faith, and providence.  It’s not uncommon for Christians to speak of grace as though it were some sort of magical assistance.  But it’s not just Christians who can sometimes demonstrate this kind of magical thinking. Those who describe themselves as “spiritual not religious” may say something like, “The universe will provide.”  Whether it’s God, the universe, or karma, I don’t believe that grace is magic.  Grace doesn’t come out of thin air.  Instead, we make grace happen.

Consider moments of grace in daily life:

A member of a church or synagogue spends an hour visiting with an elderly person who lives alone or in a facility.  The visit breaks the isolation the elder is experiencing and provides comfort and care.  Isn’t that grace?

A mother plays a game with her two small children in a shelter for women who have experienced domestic abuse.  They’ve enjoyed their dinner and feel safe and protected.  Isn’t that grace?

A neighbor down the block has been unemployed for a few months because his company downsized.  You take him a copy of your company’s employment listings and offer to introduce him to someone in the personnel department?  Isn’t that grace in action?

Grace doesn’t come from nothing.  To say it in a more theological way, grace is mediated.  Grace flows through us to others and from others to us. Grace can be mediated through inspiring words, attention to nature, or a human encounter.  But when it comes to people’s experience in daily living, we make grace happen for others.

Grace is evident:

• when we live in ways that are open, compassionate, and caring for others
• when we act with kindness, reach out to others, and go that extra mile for another
• when we stop being centered only on our personal interests but respond to others by doing what we can for their benefit.

Perhaps this is best conveyed in the words of the 16h Century Spanish mystic, Teresa of Avila.  While she understands grace as a Christian, her words convey truth for all who believe and act in good faith, regardless of age and tradition:

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
No hands but yours,
No feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion to the world;
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”

Next time you become aware of someone in need of help or support, remember that you have the capacity of make grace happen in the life of that person.

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How have others been a source of grace in your life?  In what ways can you be a source of grace for others?