In my devotion on Thursday, I spoke about the tension we have chosen to live in as a church, and the tension we are called to live in as Christians related to resources, work, and charity. There is a flip side to living with this tension. A simple demonstration would be to flex one arm for ten seconds and then release. That tension is fairly sustainable. It is concentrated and fleeting. Still, it feels good to relax that arm after ten seconds of tension. Now, flex every muscle in your body, forcibly closing your eyes and clenching your jaw, as well. Release when necessary. That kind of tension is not sustainable at all.
I have talked in previous devotions about how we internalize the burdens we carry. We do this in our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. There are resources available to help combat this. We confess, as a community, during worship. We pray, particularly the Lord’s Prayer. We give thanks for the blessings in our lives. These are all important, but they are also individualistic in nature. Can you imagine writing a personal prayer of confession from yourself to another and reciting it in front of them? Or even in front of the congregation? That would involve some real vulnerability, and we are not practiced at expressing ourselves in this way. It is here that I would like to highlight one of the greatest spiritual, yet still earthly, resources made available to us that we often overlook. The grace we can offer between others and ourselves.
Earthly grace is different from heavenly grace, but it is still equally important for our spirits. We cause tension in each other’s lives. There is also plenty going on, here on Earth, to add to pre-existing tensions. Genuine moments of grace between one person and another are as powerful as the grace that surprises us from God. Remember the demonstration that started this devotion, especially the part about clenching your jaw while flexing your entire body. People are carrying that tension, and in some cases, we, as individuals have caused some of that tension. It is incumbent upon us to be charitable with the grace we can offer when those genuine moments are present. And if you are extra well practiced, you can begin to offer yourself personal grace, as well.
The tension of living with the pandemic, alone, is enough to cause real changes to our minds and bodies. Everything that has taken place in our society and the world during this year+ of the pandemic has most assuredly affected our spirits, as well. The grace we can offer to others and ourselves will be critical as we begin to return to previous activities and practices. Let us extend genuine moments of grace to others and ourselves. Amen.
Adam
