Grace
Last night we were in life group with Crystal, David and Diane and Rindy….we just started discussing the book Ragamuffin Gospel…one of my absolute favourites…and this was one of the best parts for me. It made my heart jump. It may be the season of life that i am in, but it moved me.
“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of meaningless and empty life….it strikes us when, year after year, the longed for perfection does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at the moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is a though a voice were saying, “You are accepted, You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now, perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek anything, do not perform anything, do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted. If that happens to us, we are experiencing grace.”
-quote from Paul Tillich in The Shaking of the Foundations
You are accepted…plain and simple….you are accepted. DANG!! I mean, think about that for just a minute…you are accepted. that’s powerful!
I would love to know your thoughts?
thats a pretty awesome quote there… yea that whole grace thing never ceases to blow my mind. i always love to connect with quoes about love as well that connect on a similiar vain :)
I love it. I read it again this morning and it brought tears to my eyes….Grace…so powerful.
i'm sad i missed out with you guys last night.
i missed you too…you crazy lady that always touches her hair….so sad.
My new boss, Jesse Palmer, has mentioned Paul Tillich a few times. Maybe I need to check out some of his work. Of course I LOVE Manning. Want to see him speak sometime. He has been to Bham so many times and I have missed him. About the quote…that should be standard fare in churches but sadly it is not. It is one of those things we need to be reminded of over and over. I dont know if we ever really get it.
I actually have some audio from when he spoke at Samford….i can share it with you. I have not read any Paul Tillich either….but i plan to as well.
I dont think we will ever really get it either. Each time we fall into sin, or feel alone or like we have nothing to offer we are reminded of it. well, i will try and remind myself of it.
i don't believe there is any greater gift, than the gift of grace. i consider the U2 song "Grace" with the lyric, "Grace makes beauty out of ugly things." i am an example of grace making something beautiful. may i never believe i've arrived or earned it. i am in awe of grace–an unmerited, undeserving gift.
i don't believe there is any greater gift, than the gift of grace. i consider the U2 song "Grace" with the lyric, "Grace makes beauty out of ugly things." i am an example of grace making something beautiful. may i never believe i've arrived or earned it. i am in awe of grace–an unmerited, undeserved gift.