Radical and oh yes Amazing Grace
Love is the crowning grace of humanity.
Petrarch
Grace is a term that defies definition..it’s often associated with concepts of God or teaching from the Bible. I called this a more radical idea of grace because I intend to define it in a broader context and more as something that flows through us – yes always.
My definition is that Grace is a kind of attention – it has a focus and whatever the subject of that focus an appearance takes place. You can allow the grace that flows through you to attend to negative feelings or judgements or you can allow it to rest on beauty or joy or wonder. It carries an energy of ease rather than effort and there is always a surprise that seems to surface while grace is flowing.
I sat with a friend in one of our local parks this week – it was a lovely day – and for moments I just allowed the grace to flow – the energy of love. I began to notice right away the softness of the grass in the park (it’s quite green right now), the sound of people chatting and laughing (yes they were socially distanced) the cadence of my friend’s voice as she shared some family stories- it all had an ease to it – I was applying no effort – just noticing. This may not sound miraculous to the reader – but anytime I give up effort -it’s a memorable moment.
Without applying effort, we notice the naturalness of our nature – the way our true self wants to live in this present moment – without stress, without plans – just simple ease.
The surprise that surfaced was a sudden recognition of pure joy…when I say pure joy , I mean joy that I didn’t try to manufacture or orchestrate or control. It appeared to just happen – and had you asked me ..”joyful about what?” I would have said …just joyful. No agenda, no purpose –
I have written about true nature – our innate self before the contamination of personal thought. Let me just say it is quite different to write about it or read about it or study it – and the experiencing of it without doing anything.
We can believe that true nature is love and grace in action or not; we can attempt to “learn” about it or not, we can take the word of spiritual teachers or psychologists or not – but none of that will convince us of its presence in us and everyone. There is only one way – and that is to allow yourself to experience it.
At this point, I find myself wishing I could give you three tried and true steps but since I have been efforting over this for over 25 years- I already know that won’t help.
Recently I have been forming an intention for each day as I wake in the morning…when I started to do this I was attempting to avoid the pitfalls of the ever negative and disturbing news and media play – but you know that old saying…whatever you resist persists. So of late, it’s been more to see beyond the news, beyond the fear – beyond the worry and the constant barrage of the “new normal” and looking in that direction has brought this sense of grace flowing beyond the noise. Of love appearing – not when I am looking for it – but like your lost keys – suddenly you realize they have been there all along.
I am beginning to experience what Eckhart Tolle has spoken of for years – the power of the now – this moment – grace and ease….and its sister feeling – LOVE.
Now if that isn’t amazing, I don’t know what is!
Have a great week,
(P.S. If all else fails, pet a dog or watch a dog play this week – watch the ease of joy in the life of a dog (or cat or bird or fish) – it will bring you into the moment instantly)
