In religious contexts, grace is sometimes in the same conversation with freedom: ‘grace will set you free’ and ‘by grace, you have been saved’ are both in the Bible. And when I think of freedom, I consider some huge, game-changing words. Emancipation. Liberation. Removal from restrictions. In addition to some religious questions, I also dive into grace and equity, trying to understand shared experiences and being an ally.
Does God give emancipation through grace?
One thing I am still grappling with grace, especially related to religion, is that God’s grace seems to not divvy up consequences from mistakes. In my eyes, I think character is defined by what’s unseen, what goes unnoticed. No one is perfect, sure, but if a person believes in God’s grace, they can keep making mistakes and use grace as justification for wrongdoings. “God will forgive me anyway” feels like a flippant yet practical application.
Maybe grace is unseen, too, so perhaps grace from God (or whatever religious entity) means APPRECIATING the freedom… that despite the rights and wrongs we do, there’s still a chance we can be free. Maybe mere mortals have to recognize the wrongs? But doesn’t that undermine God’s grace?
No one has ‘wronged’ me recently, but I do think about past hurts when I’m feeling down. If they believe in God, will they be free, now or eternally? Was (is) it my job to forgive them too? If grace means freedom, I need to let these pains go, release them, and free them from my own thoughts and feelings. An idiom: happiness is the best revenge. A kinder way of looking at that is giving grace to those who have hurt me, recognizing that they are simply people, too.
Resources like grace are NOT equitable yet.
Yesterday was Freedom Day, so it’s fitting grace and emancipation are on my mind. As a middle class white woman, I don’t pretend to have all the answers and recognize these are privileges others do not have. I will never quite understand the systemic prejudice and pains Black and Brown folks have faced and continue to face. That’s why I support equity, recognizing that my circumstances (inherent or otherwise) are different than others. I still want resources and opportunities allocated so that everyone has a chance to live fully.
I strive to keep learning, listening, and giving grace. I am not silent on movements like Black Lives Matter (such as ‘Give space for mental energy’ and ‘Privilege during Corona’) and Pride. I will continue fighting for fundamental human rights and equality. I am trying to be an ally while also giving space to voices that are not my own.
This weekend, I went on a date, to my first Juneteenth Festival. He even said people may look, a Black man and a white woman holding hands. And it wasn’t perfect. The music playing wasn’t my favorite (I prefer 80s rap compared to today’s). There were MANY cops present. Perhaps because it’s been so long since I’ve been to a festival, but I couldn’t help but wonder, are people ‘used to’ being watched? Whether it’s from our perceived difference or the patrols, it did feel a little strange. But I focused on fun, exploring a new-to-me side of Denver, playing basketball as the sun set, and just laughing throughout the day!
Grace seems to not be divided equally, but we all have shared experiences.
Little Kaylie loved Styx (yes, another sampling from the 80s) and even considered tatting: “deep inside we’re all the same.” As humans, I believe we’re all connected, from our struggles to our successes. Perhaps giving and receiving grace can further connect us. Whether it’s an individual approach, or believing the source is from God, if I’ve learned anything in these nearly 5 months of studying grace, it’s that grace is a powerful tool, noticed or otherwise.
I noticed when grace showed up recently, in the forms of flowers, pictured, from a dear friend and a card from coworkers. When one of my favorite people passed, I did not know how to cope (see ‘Grace when life feels empty’) yet people saw me, hugged, and listened. Death does not make sense, but it’s a shared experience. She has been saved, by grace.
Grace transcends understanding, sometimes. It’s mercy. Flow. Enjoyment. Compassion. Personally? It often takes inner reflection, often alone, to really appreciate it. Pausing. We all need to experience it, and I think those quiet moments of self-talk (or God talk or Spirit talk) can cultivate it.
Have you felt grace recently? How did you create those moments?