Dancing with an Unfamiliar Grace

I remember the first dance I attended. I was in 8th grade. The cafeteria, classic 80's, and one nervous overgrown, goofy looking, large forehead attached to Paul Baldwin without a clue as to what to do...but dream of the first dance. In a word...awkward!

Ever since then, not much has changed in my dancing abilities. Life, however, does continues to change and the metaphorical dance continues to be refined. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I really don't know about life. Knowledge opens up a window to insecurity sometimes. Sometimes experiencing more life takes away our innocence. The more we experience this life, the more we learn of suffering, disappointment, failed expectations, and hurt.

Just this last week I had the privilege of experiencing several difficult counseling appointments, a men's retreat, a life transforming conversation with one of my children, the death of the father of one of my staff, some graduate work, preparations for our summer outreach ministry, and some other duties as assigned including my turn up for speaking at the weekend celebrations with our church.

Privilege, you ask? I think so, although we may not always think so.

The dance of Grace is not always as it seems. When we consider grace as that element of the kingdom that allows us to see heaven's perspective right now, right here, right away...in all of life's details...we begin to see that we are being shaped into the people God desires us to be. It's unfamiliar for sure. I don't deserve it, but it's given to me because the giver of this grace loves me beyond my own inadequacies. Crazy! This grace allows me the privilege...allows US the privilege to dance anywhere in all of life's offerings.

Consider the words of Jesus' brother James.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

God, I want to be mature and complete, lacking nothing but the perspective of heaven's eye. Pull me away from anything that would pull me away from you. In Jesus name, I get the privilege to interact with you. AMEN!