Grace Proclaims the Awesome Truth that ALL is Gift
Brennan Manning stated the above and a light bulb appeared over my head. Everything in our lives is a gift. Everything. Not just what we THINK is a gift, everything that we have or see or hear or...well, just everything. Brennan goes on to state:
"While there is much we may have earned - our degree, our salary, our home and garden, and a good night's sleep - all this is possible only because we have been given so much: life itself, eyes to see and hands to touch, a mind to shape ideas, and a heart to beat with love."
Let the Children Come to Me
If we are truly come to God as a child, a child hasn't really "earned" anything yet. A child is open and honest. A child is able to love and believe because they have life, not because they have been given a good job or found a life partner. What about the person with special needs who might not be able to achieve a doctorate degree or a mansion and a yacht? Are they less of a person? Not in God's eyes. He sees the heart - open and knowing.
I have been very blessed to have taught special needs students. In fact, I have a few this year too. One young man is in my 6th-8th grade music class at the school. He has aspergers syndrome and his grandma spoke to me before the first class to let me know. I had already viewed her grandson in a few social environments and knew he was a spectrum kid. I believe music is a wonderful way to connect with children with special needs. I have been making sure to call on this child and allow him to participate to his comfort level. I got a message this morning via Facebook:
"Just want you to know how much xxxx is enjoying music class.....for the first time in his life, by the way!!!! Thank you Michelle!!"
But the truth is: her grandson is the blessing to me. It is through children I see God's grace and His love.
Everyday Mysteries
Brennan Manning writes:
"The gospel of grace calls us to sing of the everyday mystery of intimacy with God instead of always seeking for miracles or visions. It calls us to sing of the spiritual roots such commonplace experiences as falling in love, telling the truth, raising a child, teaching a class, forgiving each other after we have hurt each other, standing together in the bad weather of life, of surprise and sexuality, and the radiance of existence."
Grace is everywhere and in everything we have. How often we forget that if we are looking for "mountain top" experiences? When truly we should be taking in what is right in front of our noses - looking to the current level of our world. Our world is completely saturated with God's Love and Grace. We are part of that, but so is EVERYTHING around us. Why is this so hard to grasp?
I think it is because we cannot even imagine how great His love for us is. I do think as a parent my understanding of God's love for us (his children) is much greater, but even then I know I am not even able to grasp it completely.
I will leave you with this passage from Andrew Greeley's "What a Modern Catholic Believes About God":
"Reject Christianity, if you will, out of motives of cynicism; turn away from it because you believe. Reality is malign and punitive; choose a God that is cantankerous, vindictive, or forgetful, or determined to keep man in his place, if such a God is more to your choosing. If you cannot accept the idea that love is at the core of the universe, that is your privilege. If you do not believe that the Absolute passionately wants to be our friend and our lover, then by all means reject such a seemingly absurd notion. If you do not believe that we have the enthusiasm and the strength and the courage and the creativity to love one another as friends, then quickly cast aside such an incredible idea into the trash can. And if you think it is ridiculous to believe that life will triumph over death, then don't bother with Christianity, because you can't be a Christian unless you believe that."
No comments:
Post a Comment