Grace Forward

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. Galatians 6:18

I’m re-reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. The main character, Duchess, was abandoned as a child by his father at an orphanage. As a young man, he reflects on a life lesson taught to him by Sister Agnes, “The Chains of Wrongdoing:” 

“Boys, in your time you shall do wrong unto others and others shall do wrong unto you. And these opposing wrongs will become your chains. The wrongs you have done unto others will be bound to you in the form of guilt, and the wrongs that others have done unto you in the form of indignation. The teachings of Jesus Christ Our Savior are there to free you from both. To free you from your guilt through atonement and from your indignation through forgiveness. Only once you have freed yourself from both of these chains may you begin to live your life with love in your heart and serenity in your step.”

Are you dragging chains of guilt and indignation with a heavy spirit of regret, worry, and despair? Maybe you need to hear some good news. As the Apostle Paul says:  I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but I can’t do it without his help. (Romans 7:24-25)

Jesus’ forgiveness and love (grace) break the chains and set our spirits free. Trusting him means faith is a dynamic way of life that depends on sharing peace and love in a violent world. May we live grace forward with love in our hearts and serenity in our steps.

 Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Amen, Pastor Andrea