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| Practice Grace |
For as long as I can remember, I have thrust my way through life. I have been the archetypal bull headed Taurus, bolting through China shops, without a care in the world as to how many dishes I broke before I reached my goal. I have been a control freak. I have been obsessive. I have been thorny. I have been iron-willed. I have been unyielding. Of course, it is for these reasons that I have grown into the unstoppable force that is needed right now.
However, every unstoppable force has an epicenter. This is mine.
As things have for me -- since round about July of this year -- began to transmute, my soul has been undertaking a considerable evolution. My bull headedness is giving way to patience. My tendency to go bolting through china shops has been replaced with a deeper care and compassion for others (and their dishes); a trait that I admit I have been lacking since I was about 19-years-old. My need for control over everything is slowly dissipating. My obsessions are now turned to things that are more encouraging; to helping those who need it -- even if they don’t realize how much they do. My difficult and brash nature has softened round its once sharp edges. Although with these changes, my strong will remains, alongside my unbendable self; although even those steadfast, stony aspects of my persona have an undertone of gentility to them now.
Because I finally learned something; something that I think I was supposed to have known all along…and that tiny something that makes the vastest difference in me is simply…grace.
However, every unstoppable force has an epicenter. This is mine.
As things have for me -- since round about July of this year -- began to transmute, my soul has been undertaking a considerable evolution. My bull headedness is giving way to patience. My tendency to go bolting through china shops has been replaced with a deeper care and compassion for others (and their dishes); a trait that I admit I have been lacking since I was about 19-years-old. My need for control over everything is slowly dissipating. My obsessions are now turned to things that are more encouraging; to helping those who need it -- even if they don’t realize how much they do. My difficult and brash nature has softened round its once sharp edges. Although with these changes, my strong will remains, alongside my unbendable self; although even those steadfast, stony aspects of my persona have an undertone of gentility to them now.
Because I finally learned something; something that I think I was supposed to have known all along…and that tiny something that makes the vastest difference in me is simply…grace.
Getting to Grace…
Fifty-three days ago, I wanted vengeance. Fifty-three days ago,
I wanted to destroy someone in response to the damage and agony my children
have suffered at his hands; in response to the ache and anguish I have suffered
at his hands for a generation now. Fifty-three days ago, I couldn’t see past my
rage. Yet time (and grace) has quelled that lust for revenge. In fact, like a candle
blowing in a tornado, the flame of my fury has been snuffed out.
My rage, my anger, my hatred, my disgust has been replaced
with grace; the knowledge that my desire to help my children see the light at
the end of this musky, dank hole in the Earth of our souls has to be the prime
meridian of my journey; because it is “right” thing to do, because that's what I was supposed to learn as part of this lesson. I
imagine I have many of your prayers to thank for that.
Growing in Grace
after Getting to Grace…
Yet, my longing for grace is more entrenched than you might
see on the surface; much, much deeper, in fact. Because I also want to help
spread light and healing to others; to genuinely do some real good in this world, and with my life. To truly be the change
the world in a way that needs changing,
by being the harbinger for truth when it comes to one of the darkest,
deepest, skeletal secrets of far too many families. But also, to impart grace
to souls that need it so desperately.
You see, I have been chronicling this journey, much to the
chagrin of experts in some areas, and even some of those near and dear to me, because
I realized that in doing so, I can remember. I can remember how we felt on days
that seemed as if there was no end. I can remember why we fight. I can remember
why it’s so important. For without those chronicles, all of “this” runs the
risk of becoming a distant memory; an unfulfilled promise; a black hole.
To help me, I read these chronicles quite often, to remind me of what I need to be reminded of, to keep my mind fresh, to keep my will strong, to remain an unstoppable force. Yet above all else, my reading and re-reading has granted me grace.
To help me, I read these chronicles quite often, to remind me of what I need to be reminded of, to keep my mind fresh, to keep my will strong, to remain an unstoppable force. Yet above all else, my reading and re-reading has granted me grace.
The Story Ebbs On…
And while I hope my doing what I have to do, by extending grace
instead of enacting my own brand of vengeance, will not mean that my story ends
abruptly, I am also gently reminded by the man upstairs that no one is
guaranteed tomorrow, no matter who they might be.
In other words don’t
put off even the smallest bit of good you can do today until tomorrow. You
never know when you will miss your next sunrise.
So, for as many days as I am granted, I give the one thing I
am good at giving: my words. I’m lending my voice for as long as I can, to
whomever will listen (or read). I do this in the hopes that my copious chronicling changes things;
in the hopes that my silly words on a page do what I want them to do; to heal,
to motivate, to teach, to spread benevolence. And, bearing that in mind there are two words I want to share with you today:
Practice grace.
When someone hurts you, show them grace. Show them mercy.
However, do not be dim witted enough to fall into the traps of evil men or
women again.
Instead of getting riled up at the person who has slighted
you, show them a little grace.
Of course that doesn’t mean you should let people walk all
over you, nor does it mean that the extension of grace will be met with grace
in return. There remains such a thing as righteous indignation. There remains
such a thing as a valid outcry for justice. On these things I am resolute, and
on these things, so should you be; so should we all.
However, it is poignant to remember that just a little grace
can go a long, long way. Because it is only through grace that healing can
begin -- a tie in to the pick for the ‘Soundtrack of Life’ at the bottom of the
page (a concept I will delve into later).
What? I have to keep
you people coming back, don’t I?
My wish for you. Yes. All of You....
I ask you to do one thing today and everyday moving forward. I ask you to only remember these two words every time you get angry, each time you are sad, every time you are motivated to honk your horn at the woman at the freshly turned green light who is holding up traffic and updating her Facebook status (yes, that would be me): I ask you to practice grace. That’s it.
I ask you to do one thing today and everyday moving forward. I ask you to only remember these two words every time you get angry, each time you are sad, every time you are motivated to honk your horn at the woman at the freshly turned green light who is holding up traffic and updating her Facebook status (yes, that would be me): I ask you to practice grace. That’s it.
You know me, I like to keep things simple….
But, of course, I have to leave you with a question; a call
to action as it were. How do you intend to practice grace in your own life? I
honestly want to know. For if my simple words might hold the power to changing the world, know that yours
can too.
And if you like what I have to say today or any other day, PLEASE SHARE IT! And then...share it again!
Today’s pick from my ‘Soundtrack of Life’:
Tại Bruno.vn, bạn có thể lựa chọn áo thun nam tay dài Uniqlo hay kiểu áo có cổ với áo thun nam có cổ H&M hay kiểu có cổ với áo thun nam có cổ Uniqlo kiểu áo phông với áo phông nam H&M hay kiểu khác với áo phông nam Uniqlo bạn có thể chọn áo thun trơn với kiểu áo thun trơn nam H&M cực chất hay áo thun polo nam H&M thời trang, sành điệu hay mẫu áo thun polo nam Uniqlo cho bạn tha hồ lựa chọn, hay bạn có thể chọn áo jean nam Uniqlo cực bền và đẹp. Tại đây, cũng cho bạn lựa chọn QUẦN UNIQLO cực đẹp, lịch lãm, hay quần short jean nam H&M bạn tha hồ lựa chọn hay kiểu quần dài với quần dài nam Uniqlo hay kiểu kaki với quần kaki nam H&M hay quần jean nam Uniqlo cực sành điệu. Bạn thắc mắc mua quần jean nam ở đâu đẹp TPHCM hay câu hỏi mua quần jean nam rẻ ờ đâu hay bạn thắc mắc mua quần jeans Nam hàng đẹp mà giá rẻ ở đâu tại TP.HCM hay ở sài gòn nên mua quần áo ở đâu đẹp, chính hãng hay mua áo sơ mi nam ở đâu đẹp TPHCM uy tín giá rẻ hay mua áo sơ mi trắng nam ở đâu đẹp tại TP.HCM hay shop bán áo sơ mi trắng nam đẹp ở đâu uy tín chính hãng thì hãy đến với Buno.vn - thiên đường thời trang nam hàng hiệu đẹp cao cấp.
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