Abundant Grace
“Money doesn’t grow on trees.” How many times have you heard that phrase? Growing up I heard it more than I desired. Why? Because as a child it wasn’t uncommon for me to get a case of the “wants.” Wantectomies aren’t really possible on little ones, so catch phrases like the above mentioned are used like antidotes for covetousness. It’s a grouping of words intended to bring perspective to the hearer, hoping that their spending habits will put on the brakes and some level of fiscal responsibility will enter the picture.
What about grace? Can it be spent recklessly? Are we ever not in need of grace? Does it grow on trees? Of course not…and that’s a good thing. Think about it! If grace grew on trees we’d have little access to grace in the winter seasons of our lives. A few days ago I was in need of grace…that is I needed to extend it. And trust me…there were no trees around me.
I had a flight scheduled to depart at 6:40am. It was the first of three flights I would be on during the day that would eventually transport me from Kansas City to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Important business appointments were at the other end of my journey and I was anticipating a great week.
As I left the house, there began a series of not well-boding circumstances. I quickly became aware that I couldn’t see. My right eye which had been improving was now quickly degenerating for whatever reason. I had to return home and pull out some old glasses with a stronger prescription so I could see.
When I arrived at the airport and settled my car into economy parking, I was victim to a longer than usual wait for the bus to take us to the terminal. So long in fact that the bus was packed to overflowing with people who had been waiting an inordinate amount of time.
Upon arrival at the terminal, I was now only ½ hour from departure. My attempts to check in the night prior met with several roadblocks and I had to check in live for my flight. They handed me a ticket and I rushed for the gate. There was a line to get through security, a line so long it wound out of sight of the gate. It was easily an hour or more wait just to get to the security clearance gate. I asked four times at different spots in the line if I could cut in, to make it possible to board my 6:40am flight. Each time I was denied. At the back of the line, I realized the chance of making my flight was about as realistic as me liking liver and onions. It wasn’t going to happen. The gentleman in front of me was in the same predicament with the same flight and had also been denied access to the front of the line.
At ten minutes to departure, I went to the front of the line and again sought grace. I asked to be allowed to cut in so I could catch my flight. AND…amazingly, a person said “Yes.” I waved my new found friend up to the front and put him ahead of me. We got through the line and ultimately through security. My buddy arrived at the check-in counter first. They gave him a ticket and he boarded. I stepped up and they refused to board me. My seat had been given away. I was also informed that since I missed the flight they couldn’t help me. The lady basically looked at me and in so many words said, “Tough nooggies.”
I bring you back to my original premise….I was in need of grace because I needed to extend it. I wasn’t feeling friendly toward the bus transportation system, fellow travelers, or airline personnel. And hey…grace doesn’t grow on trees! When you feel like you’re being treated like pond scum…giving “nice” away isn’t an automatic response.
Then again the Book of Lamentations tells us that each and every day God’s mercies are brand new. Mercy and grace may not grow on trees…but both are available in abundance just for the asking. And…they come brand new, all polished and attractive, ready to give out to others.
I had to ask myself, what’s more important here…my schedule or God’s people? My arrival in Halifax when I planned to arrive or the arrival of a demonstration of grace when God expected it to be given? I would be the one which Jesus wanted to use as His skin to hand out His grace.
Who we are can sometimes be clouded by the murky circumstances of life. We can become schedule driven, or want motivated, or self indulgent or poorly disciplined, or just plain spiritually apathetic and miss opportunities to extend grace. I’m grateful that God is none of the above and I have been a recipient of an abundance of new, forgiving, cleansing, lavish, amazing grace.
Are you stuck in a line? Are you behind in your schedule? Are you missing something you thought you needed? Good news…you can still receive grace and extend grace. Be the man or woman God intends you to be. When you do…you’ll arrive exactly where you need to be.
