Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Moment of Grace

This is from the book, "One Door Away From Heaven." I read it a long time ago. I can't remember the exact story although I know I liked it a lot. Maybe it would be smarter if I re read it and then wrote about it, but actually the whole book isn't the point. It's just one paragraph out of 681 pages. I was talking to a friend of mine today about quotes. I've written about this before. I love quotes I love hearing new ones. I love re reading old ones. I love when someone shares one with me that they think I will appreciate.

So, from the book, " It's also true-that sometimes-not often, but once in a great while-your life can change for the better in one moment of grace, almost a sort of a miracle, someone so special comes along, some precious understanding descends on you so unexpectedly that it just pivots you in a new direction, changes you forever."
This train of thought goes through my mind a lot. I don't want to miss when that happens. Do you think it's like that tree falling in the woods idea? Like if know noone hears it, does it make a noise? So, if you don't notice when this, "moment of grace," (I can't tell you how I love those three words) occurs, if you are not aware, does it change your life, or is it a missed opportunity, or could it go either way? Like all of the sudden things are wonderfully different but you just didn't notice how you got there?

It's like all the tiny things that happen that change your course of day, one way or another, good or bad. Do you think about this? I do, for instance, I hate lateness, because of the utter disregard it seems to be on other people's time, BUT (yes I'm CAPPING) it always crosses my mind that there might be a very good, never to be known, reason for that lateness. Like had you been on time, something might have gone wrong on the drive over that could have irrevocably changed your and everyone you know lives. So, maybe, just maybe, you were lucky to have been late. I know everything is not this dramatic. It's just how I think.
My friend sent me this quote today. Take it to your graves people.
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
Word up.

10 comments:

Sue Jacquette said...

How come you didn't post the quote I sent you today?

Amy said...

Um, I think you know why that is... Not to worry, it's coming tomorrow. The post will have you as an co- author. :)

Anonymous said...

I DO think about that. And I also hate lateness but sometimes when you hear people who were late and missed being on a plane that crashed, etc., you think about that quote. So....

Simple Answer said...

I love grace. I don't think it is something you can miss. I think it's beauty is blinding.

Anonymous said...

I think about those things a lot...I analyze everything (and I thought everything WAS dramatic?) I'm not sure, but I think you do have to recognize your moment of grace (at least at some point along the line...I don't know...) Awesome post! :)

Anonymous said...

Dude, c'mon. You remember your moment of grace. You were at ACAC...in a yoga class. You were in the back row on a pink mat. Ringing any bells? And - not to glorify myself TOO much - IN I WALKED. I mean, hasn't everything seemed just a titch sunnier since that pivotal moment? No need to thank me; it's just the way I am.

Anonymous said...

Can't argue with Twist.

Mark said...

It is my belief that grace is in abundance, around us at every moment, but we get caught up in the difficulty or busy-ness or routineness of life and miss it. On those rare occasions we take notice, we are blown away by its impact. I have to think one of the great goals of life should be clearing our minds and hearts and souls of all of the clutter that keeps us from experiencing grace.

Unknown said...

Wonderful post. You're so right about the fact that there are reasons why things can't always go as planned! Such can be the beauty of spontaneity!

Mark said...

One more thought... it occurs to me that we feel grace or lightness or the sheer joy of life most when we act in service of others. Whether doing volunteer work, helping a friend with a favor, or simply smiling to make someone else happy, don't we all feel so good about knowing we've made someone else's life better? I think all of your readers should make a commitment to do something, however big or small, for someone else (or several people) over the next few days. On Sunday, you could start a post asking people what they did, for whom and how it impacted both parties. What do you say? Hey, it's a free blog post idea, and it will make the world a better place.