Finding Grace

 The terms "walking in grace" or "she walks in grace" or "they live in a state of grace", have read or heard often but wonder just what does grace mean when used in such a way and for that matter what does grace by itself stand for. Seems to me grace has several different meanings. We say grace before meals as a way of giving thanks, but does that have any bearing as to whether or not we are living our lives in grace? Does God smile when we do so and if so does that smile give us some sort of special aura?

Passages in the bible such as St. Paul's letter to Titus implies that eternal salvation is only bestowed via grace granted upon one by the almighty. And if such is granted does that then mean the rest of one's life is blessed? If so blessed for what? To do good deeds, and/or to get through life's storms with a sense of "grace?"

My Mom and Dad walked in grace no matter whether is defined in sectarian or non sectarian terms. They shared God's love and their own with strangers, family, and both underserved and deserved recipients. That they did so with passion to serve was evident.  Dad was always there when congregation members were in need. Home visits, counseling sessions, hospital prayers were comforting. He had a big role in helping a friend of mine recover from a suicide attempt, and gave hope to hundreds of others dealing with health and life issues. He also did what he could for the community at large by being on the school board, and starting a Kiwanis club. Always busy and full of enthusiasm his motor ran non stop.

Mom, a rural one room school teacher by the age of 17 rode her horse to and from.  One day the father of a boy she had disciplined showed up with a buggy whip in hand ready to strike. He did not, and she forgave his threats. The grace she showed under pressure then and throughout her life was one of her most endearing characteristics. Whether dealing with me or my brother's antagonists or people unsettled her calmness and clear thinking shined through. 

Our home was a refuge for run away nieces, an orphaned student, and motorists stranded by blizzards on the interstate. Growing up three blocks from the Mississippi next to a good sized red-bricked church stragglers knocked on our door often. They were always awarded with a warm meal. 

507 East Sixth in addition to being the type of parsonage where members and strangers dropped by unannounced was the local playground during inclement weather. We retired worn mattresses to the cavernous attic which served for neighborhood wrestling tournaments. Those plus sock basketball with the downstairs chandeliers would in Mom's words "shake the house." When days were clear us boys and our gang stayed active turning the backyard grass into dirt via football, and knocking out garage windows and alleyway warehouse windows with baseballs and basketballs. The only time she ever yelled at us for doing such and anything else for that matter was when calling to come in for supper. Her biggest impact was the way she displayed how to love one's self and others and that love got my brothers and I through many challenging situations.

Norman Maclean's memoir described his father's belief as " to him all good things,trout as well as eternal salvation, come by grace and grace comes by art and art does not come easy."

That passage is on apt display in the recent documentary film about climber Marc Andr'e Leclerc. Film reviewer Oliver Peiling described Leclerc's climbs most all of which were done without rope and alone as "poetry in motion." Such in itself can be defined as someone that moves in a way that is very graceful. The fact that he was one of the few and for some ascents the only one to have done what he did attests to how skilled he was to have climbed so beautifully. 

There are other lessons learned from his life. As Peiling notes "Not that one needs to go out and climb mountains but we all have mountains of some shape or form in our lives, and maybe it's time to start approaching them. That's all. We are all seeking meaning.. and our job as we go through life is to try and come up with some kind of answer. More or less."

Thanks to growing up surrounded by grace and enveloped in such as an adult by Betty and family I am certain that there is a spark, one may call it a "a light" or a bit of the divine in each of us which prompts our motivation to care for and share love with those known and unknown. And that the more meaning we can find on our path the better we can in turn walk with and give "grace." 

Now that am approaching what is officially known as old age, I wonder about the mountain yet to climb. Will such be met with strength and courage? I do not know, but what do know is that grace is comforting. Blessings to all. May your light shine through.

The Alpinist

Mom and Dad with us 3 boys

moments before hurt the okole Mokuleia BD 2008