What if Everything is Grace?

Years ago one of my first spiritual teachers told me “gratitude is not a feeling it is action.” Then Patrick asked, “If our demonstration of gratitude is dependent on feeling grateful, what good is it?”

It’s a story I’ve told to more than a few people for whom I have provided counsel, and have written about it several times. Recently it returned to me from a spiritual student, but in altered form. Jenny told me, “Grace is an action, not a feeling.”

In the instant it was uttered, it struck a chord deep within me. Over many years I have heard grace referenced over and over again, invariably associated with some good that has appeared, and typically with pleasant feelings.

As an aside, I’m smiling now as I recall the comments of another spiritual student, Michael. “What the hell, Ron! If there is something called grace, everything has to be grace. Dammit, you can’t just say that about the good stuff!”

And yet, the notion of grace as action looks far beyond feelings and pleasantry.

In meditating upon these ideas, a still small voice spoke.

Grace is an action, not a feeling.

Grace is not conferred upon us, nor do we live by Grace.

Rather, it is living demonstrated as Grace.

Grace lives as and through us.

Grace is life itself.

My meditative response to the voice was to get still quieter and to go deeper. In that expansive space, even greater clarity came unbidden.

There is only One. Nothing is excluded or excludable.

Every breath is demonstration of Grace.

Each step and misstep is imbued with Grace.

There is no good nor evil that is separate and apart from Grace.

*****

A deep humility fell upon me as tears came.

What if everything is Grace?

Seeing True™

The secret is in becoming an observer to Grace in action. In order to do so we must relinquish our perceptions and beliefs; we must see through new eyes.

Seeing True™ in Action

Let’s be honest. The proposition that Grace is in everything is a very difficult one, if not outright heresy. We are so deeply attached to what some have called the “Santa Claus God” that only delivers gifts on our terms and according to our understanding. We resist the idea that something which is not obviously good and pleasant could possibly by a part of Grace. This is called a closed mind.

In light of the challenge, here are a few questions with which to begin our inquiry.

Am I willing to consider that Grace is ever present in every manifestation?

If not, what would it take for me to become willing?

Updated October, 2024