Before we can get what that fancy word Christians use means, we need to challenge ourselves. That fancy word is GRACE. It has a whole lot to do with you and me and our relationship to God.
Over the summer we will be exploring much over used and little understood words. The goal here is to realize that the words we often use are really entry points to a much larger reality which often there are no words to define it because it is an experience that makes a difference. For instance, to say “I am angry” are words that refer to a very deep and encompassing reality.
To begin unpacking what grace really refers to in our lives, we need to see grace as more than what people of faith say at meals (while very important). We need to begin with human nature. Human nature means many things to many different people. “What is human”? What is “natural”?
Human nature sets us apart from nature in general. I grew up with a Golden Retriever who was the kindest most gentle and loving dog you could ever know. Rufus was his name. Rufus always met you with a wagging tail, dark brown eyes looking at you, and a shoe in his mouth. It was his way of saying “welcome home”. Golden Retrievers do things like that. That is their nature. It is natural. But ask Rufus what he was doing and why or where he was going and why, you would get no answer. Ask Rufus why he picked one shoe over another, you would get no answer. Animals do not have the human ability to stand aside and observe themselves. A dog cannot say, as far as I know, “this is my paw.” A human being on the other hand can hold a hand in front of their face and say “This is MY hand.”
There is a difference. I take the difference to reveal the fact that humans have the ability that God has — to stand aside from, apart, and observe. God created creation and then stood back and observed. We create lives. God “saw” it was good so we are told. We “see” all is well.
Just a start. Check back next week