Grace for the Unknown

I am so thankful for those who stepped in to lead this past Sunday, as I was battling with back pain. Sometimes in life, seemingly out of nowhere, life can throw you some curveballs. Indeed, I have suffered since my adolescence with back pain issues, it is one of the reasons I try to stay active and walk often. A couple of days ago the pain was so intense, and I had to slow down. I don’t like to slow down. Over the past couple of days I have been googling ways I can expedite the healing process. Should I stretch more? Walk through the pain? etc, etc… You get the picture. Can anyone relate? Sometimes we need to slow down, rest, and heal. We cannot fix everything. That’s hard to say! Though, we cannot fix everything. Sometimes things, like backs, just need time and rest.

When in the midst of challenges, and I realize mine is minimal in comparison to what others are going through, we can begin to see things differently. For example, today I learned that (creatively) I already have a ready made “standup” desk in my room. We have a bookcase that has a wide surface top, and is at the perfect height for me to stand up straight at as I type. Before hurting my back I only saw a bookcase in the corner of my bedroom, now I see a desk. I realize that’s just a small aha moment, but it’s proving to be a helpful change. Life is full of unknown and uncertain moments. Hear that again, life is full of unknown and uncertain moments. And if we experience unknown and uncertain moments in life, we know we face challenges we have not faced before, or have to face in a different way as new seasons unfold. Therefore, we should extend grace to one another, and to ourselves.

“It’s at the bottom where we find grace: for like water, grace seeks the lowest place and there it pools up.” ~ Father Richard Rohr

Rest in grace today, dear friends. Extend grace to others. Everyone has a story, and you don’t know when your acts of grace and love may be the light that warms another’s path.

Blessings!
Pastor Matthew