Grace

How long have I thought of

GRACE,

as a large barrel

with a spigot at the bottom

and a white label reading,

"Grace, for all those who

read their Bible and

pray

every day."

If you got up in the morning,

cup of tea,

Bible,

religious music,

and don't forget to pray

(for at least thirty minutes)

You could buy enough grace to last you

Just.

One.

Day.

And then your day would go well.

How long was I wracked with doubt

because of a lie?

It didn't take long to realize

Means of grace equals good day.

My good days and bad days

were hung as indiscriminately

as children hanging ornaments

on a Christmas tree.

And if God had lied to me about grace,

What else?

***

Grace is not a substance.

Grace is a person.

When I received that person

I received all the grace in the world.

And all the mercy.

And all the goodness

And all the peace.

And all the joy.

And to use the means of grace

was to get to know a person,

not to benefit from some

ethereal, magic potion.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus

be with me."

So, I realized it was with me.

It is with me.

Forever.

Amen and Amen.

~A