"Grace" | Reflection by Lisa Omark

How full of grace is the pine branch that patiently, resiliently bears its weight of snow.  The quiet season of Lent offers us opportunities to embrace the guiding light of God’s grace, to consider its promise of strength and direction. “Grace has brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.”

This Lent we must take full stock.  The intensity of our collective burdens reduces the guiding light of grace to embers. COVID-19 and other diseases, racial injustice, climate change, and violence all leave our patience and resilience in short supply.  Clashing perspectives diminish effective solutions and pull us from the miracles of our inner truths. The common ground on which we walk feels forsaken.  Furthering our feelings of separation from God and from each other is our inability to gather and worship.  We yearn for the light and love of spiritual inclusion, for the hope it brings.  

It is in these dark moments that God’s boundless grace finds us, blessing us with new apertures that gently guide our healing, illuminate joyful possibilities.  As God’s grace touches us, we are inspired to connect with others and share.  As John Prine sang:

“So, if you’re walking down the street sometime

And spot some hollow, ancient eyes;

Please don’t just pass ‘em by and stare,

As if you didn’t care;

Say hello in there, hello.”

Like the pine branch, those hollow eyes are bearing their burdens.  Our “hello” might be the restorative gift needed to make a difference. God’s loving grace will resonate among us, amaze us, and revive our common ground.  His precious grace will lead us home.

Words in the Wilderness - Walk through the season of Lent with Trinity, one word at a time. Every day (except on Sundays) we will post a photo and a brief refection written by someone in our Trinity community. https://www.trinitynewhaven.org/words-in-the-wilderness