Every day is different, but today is a good one.
That seems to be my response a lot lately. I think it’s become a mantra of sorts for me. My body lets me know when I’m nearing my next treatment — the nights get worse trying to fall asleep. The days are a little more difficult to navigate. Instead of good days and bad days it becomes about a mostly good day with a mix of a few varied hours requiring rest or just sitting down and putting my feet up so the nerves can settle down. The good moments outnumber the bad, though. Each treatment brings positive results.
The weekend has been good overall. We flew to Florida to be a part of Joe and Heidi’s wedding. They asked me to officiate, and I was honored to accept. Brenda, Star, and I arrived on Thursday and were picked up by Joy who graciously let us stay with her.
The wedding ceremony took place on a beach in Melbourne, Florida. Family and friends gathered to show their excitement and support. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was perfect, and the bride and groom were amazing as they exchanged rings, said their vows, and committed to their new life together. I could not be prouder of them.
Theirs is a story of grace. They both traveled some very challenging roads to get to where they are. God’s grace carried them through to this point in their lives and will continue with them as they forge their new path together.
The concept of grace is being talked about a lot in Christian circles right now. I have been an active herald of the grace of God for years, but I struggle with the way it’s currently being used.
Grace is being used as a way for people to say that they have been accepted regardless of who they are, what they have done, and how they live. And I agree. Grace finds you right where you are — exactly as you are — broken and flawed, and says you are accepted. Grace covers all of that. But grace is more.
Grace assumes a certain story line. The story of grace goes something like this: There was a point in time when all was well and everything was on track. Then something went wrong and things got off-track finding a different trajectory. This is where grace steps in. Grace finds you in this off-track trajectory and says it’s ok. You’re ok. What got you here — any decisions or actions that led you to this place are in the past. Then grace says something more. It says let’s get you back on the path you were meant for.
Grace is not grace if it is not pointing you to something more, something better. That is what grace is. It covers you where you are and walks with you to a new place. Not in a find-perfection-now-or-go-to-hell kind of way, but in a way that gives you the space to find the good path — allowing you to gain confidence with each new step that the ground you are walking on is solid.
I love being able to witness grace in action. When God prods you with kindness and gentleness toward the path he intended for you, life expands in ways you never would have dreamed.