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I have learned from a non-denominational Christian church that grace is God’s gift to us humans. There is a song used in worship service called Grace Like Rain. It’s pretty much Amazing Grace sung in a near monotone with a new chorus put in. Lyrics by Todd Agnew:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see so clearly
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun
Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away
It is that phrase, grace like rain falls down on me that has been repeating in my head these days. When rain falls from the sky, it doesn’t fall just on one person! It falls on everyone around that person, too. What else engulfs not just one, but everyone near? Light.
I propose that grace is also like light. Your world begins to glow with good things once you attain a certain state of grace. Every person you come into contact with may also receive the light. And realize also, that if you fall into a state of disgrace, it is not because God is punishing you. If grace is God’s gift, then disgrace is the withdrawal or absence of that gift, not a punishment. If grace is Light, then disgrace is an absence of light.
I recently saw a movie called States of Grace. The title itself is a play on the words grace and disgrace, and it refers to the fact that all of us humans are usually in a state somewhere between grace and disgrace, based on our past decisions. The movie’s main characters are LDS Mormon missionaries, but it’s not about being Mormon, it’s about being Human.
Don’t beat yourself up internally if you’ve made a mistake and fallen into disgrace. That would be like picking at a scab so it never heals. Time and Light and forgiveness will heal your internal wounds, and then you will find grace, a gift that we so often don’t even deserve!
5 comments
Centria says:
July 24, 2008 at 6:02 am (UTC -7 )
This is really cool. I never thought of grace as being like light. In fact the term “grace” has always been a bit obscure to me. The term “awareness” is what I use….but it probably means somewhat of the same thing.
And, yes, it does seem to fall on everyone around, everyone in the circle, everyone near.
Beating ourselves up is not the right approach either. That just makes the old scab worse. Maybe it IS grace that heals the wound, the cut. But along with grace, the work of seeing what we did to co-create the original wound, is often helpful.
Elio Galluzzi says:
July 24, 2008 at 11:30 am (UTC -7 )
Beautiful lyrics, Jessica.
The similitude between rain and the light of God is superbe, I like this post,
Take care,
Elio
jessica says:
July 24, 2008 at 8:11 pm (UTC -7 )
Centria: Thanks for stopping by my site! Yes, perhaps it is the appearance of grace that allows us to heal. And perhaps the appearance of grace doesn’t come until we do some introspection, as you suggest. I like it. The song lyrics also indicate, and grace my fears relieved…
Elio: Very nice that you stopped by. I like your web site, too. I like that phrase you used, too…”rain and the light of God”…sounds like a book title!
Carol King says:
July 26, 2008 at 8:54 am (UTC -7 )
Hi Jessica, those lyrics are very beautiful. Grace is often mistaken for something that depicts lightness or beauty of movement i.e. graceful, but it is so much more than that, you and Elio have summed it up perfectly. Great post.
jessica says:
July 26, 2008 at 10:41 pm (UTC -7 )
Carol: Yes, I’ve also thought of grace as only something a ballerina has when she dances. But now I see that the grace of God is the light of our lives; something that guides, heals, and gifts you.