Finding Grace While Staring in the Eyes of Hatred

 

'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

These words are staring at me from a poster on the wall of the guest room where I am currently staying as I search for words. Well, in searching for words, there they are right in front of me. 

The last twenty-four hours have been extremely emotional. If you were awake, then you are aware. I have no desire to rehash them here. I will say that hatred and intolerance that result in taking a husband, father, son, brother from this earth prematurely does not further healthy discourse. In any way. And healthy discourse was the entire mission of Charlie Kirk.

How do we survive tragedy? How do we have any sort of hope for this life in the face of actions like we saw yesterday? Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. A date that echoes in the hearts and minds of those of us who witnessed it as the end of innocence in our nation. Everything changed on that day. How the world saw us-how we saw the world.

Oh, I realize that those in generations previous to mine might say differently. After all, I was not alive to witness the Civil War; where blood relatives chose sides in a deadly dispute. Nor did I witness the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. People who fled war-torn Europe and the Holocaust might disagree with me. Every generation has its moment. The one on which they pivot from innocence, hopeful naivety to skepticism or possibly despair.

Covid may have done it for my grandchildren...perhaps being a witness to what is happening right before their eyes in our country might just do it. Or maybe we have not even allowed them that pure innocence the we had to start with? (Sigh)

Yesterday, I was prepared to board a plane and head home after three weeks away. I am always torn leaving where I am. Family is here where I am visiting. The weather is much more enjoyable than in Florida at this time of year. But I always have a longing to get home. At my age, my own bed calls to me. Cooking in my own kitchen, the familiar comforts of my own home and routine are welcome after weeks away. Unless you are young and adventurous, you will understand.

Circumstances resulted in our changing our tickets to a couple of days later. I had to make some mental and emotional adjustments. I'm not all that great at sudden change. I'd like to think, however, that I handled it with mostly grace. Which translates to I didn't whine, complain or sulk. I was gracious.

I feel as believers, we too have a longing for Home. A Home we've not yet seen but know. A Home we have toiled for, but cannot envision. A yearning grows deep within us, more intense as the years pass.

Circumstances in this life will require us to respond graciously more often than not. Grace is the power, given freely from our Heavenly Father through His Spirit, that enables us to live accepted by Him, to access His strength, and to dwell in His presence, where we will find His comfort. The tragedies and trials of life would be unnavigable without Him.

Our nation is in turmoil. No one can effectively argue that. How we respond as a people,to the events occurring in real time on social media, will determine our future. Without grace, love, and the recognition of the dignity of life we have little hope.

Just before President Lincoln himself was assassinated, he said, “It is for we the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Men have given their lives for causes that matter. The cross, salvation for the masses, family, freedom and liberty. Let us, as Lincoln advised, stay dedicated to these causes, and finish the work which these men so staunchly and boldly stood for.