In the Mirror

Monday March 10, 2014

I think we stare at ourselves in the mirror for far too long.

It’s called introspection, self-examination, navel gazing, reflection. Some terms are kinder than others.

My problem with such self-examination is that we tend to wallow. We stay where we are, claiming grace as a justification for all our flaws.

Yes, grace is there. And it’s free and boundless and unlimited. There is no line. 

But how can we to respond to that grace? With a fathomless awe and love that compels us to One who is the Good. 

W.H. Auden sums it up beautifully, as he so often does:

“Unless introspection is accompanied…by an equal passion for the good life, it all too easily degenerates into a spineless, narcissistic fascination with our own sin and weakness.” 

Give me that passion for good—for You, Lord—so that, in Your power, I respond to Your grace.

I'm linking up with Laura, Michelle, and Jen today.

Rest, Love, and Grace: Friday's Fave Five

July 23, 2010
Happy Friday!

Time to look back at the blessings of the week. Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for hosting each week and encouraging us to look for the blessings. Be sure to visit Susanne if you’d like to join in. Here are my favorites for this week.

1. Post vacation relaxation. I don't know why, but we're still feeling it -- that sense of relaxation that comes with vacation. I'm so thankful for it. Often you return and immediately feel harried and pressured, but not so this year. Wonder if we learned something? Hmm...

2. My boys. Of course, I'm always thankful for them, but (like me) they all seem pretty excited about this book coming out. Two of them helped me with my Facebook page, one called to tell me his friend is going to write a review on Amazon, and another has promoted my blog and book on his own blog. One told me, "I feel like our roles are reversed. I keep saying, 'I'm so proud of my mom!'"

3. Support and friendship. From encouraging comments to emails and calls, I'm just getting so much support regarding the book. It's like Christmas with the love!

4. These words from Psalm 16. This is so beautifully put, and it echoes my heart.

I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." As for the saints who are in the land [this is many of you], they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight...Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance...I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

5. Some words about grace. I don't often read books more than once, but What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey is an exception. I'm sure that's because I need to be reminded of what a treasure -- and responsibility -- grace is. Yancey reminds us that "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less." But, often, with scales of justice in one hand and a gavel in another, we don't live like that. We don't impart grace; we don't, unfortunately, share it with others. Yancey uses a quote to remind us:

"I know nothing, except what everyone knows -- if there when Grace dances, I should dance." (W.H. Auden)

Grace dances every day in my life; may I not only dance with it, but may I pass it along those I see at the ball.

Hope you've had a great week. Enjoy the weekend.