changing grace
this was the reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little you may know me better there.
– Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
– C S Lewis
I recently read the book Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander http://www.lifebeyonddeath.net/ and enjoyed it so much, I also related to much of it, not because I have had a return from death experience, but because I have met and talked to God in some unusual places over these past years and have had glimpses of God and mystery which have changed me, and opened me, forever.
We are brought to these places so that we may know God, just a little, better here in this broken world. We are given glimpses, shaded bits of glory, the pieces we are ready to receive, come to us, changing our lives forever, as we attempt to absorb the brilliance, so far beyond our human understanding. As Ann Voskamp says, ‘We can have as much God as we want in this life’. I believe that is true. We are given a guarantee that what we ask for and seek will be opened to us.
We grapple and try, to open our minds ever wider. We try to share, in ways we are able, this new understanding, this life changing knowledge, knowing how difficult it is to understand. We could never have understood these things happening before we went through them for ourselves, yet we also know it is too important to keep to ourselves, and we understand that, IF we, who are just ordinary people, have experienced these earth shattering moments, (and we cannot deny we have) then it is possible for others as well.
And so, we try. We put it into inadequate words and we share it however we are called, this unexpected knowledge we have been given, even as we are just a bit embarrassed at the position it puts us in. Sometimes it seems like it was a little simpler before these revelations. Yet it is also the best gift we have ever experienced and we just want others to know, to share it, to open to amazing grace. As Anne LaMotte says, ‘God’s grace comes to us right where we are, but never leaves us there’. Slowly, gloriously we are changed into glory ourselves.
When we find fellow travelers, who have experienced similar things, it is rare, joyous and wonderful to share. It gives us strength, hope and allows us to open ourselves to even more of the unlimited possibilities which are ever present and possible as we move through this place and into the place where we are so intimately known and connected.
I am so grateful for Dr. Alexander sharing his story and I am grateful I was able to read it and relate to such an un-understandable mystery and unconditional LOVE – which is our creator.
life: acoustic & amplified 