Over the weekend, I spoke with a minister about the concept of grace… you know, the idea that our Creator offers great blessings and benefits to us that we really don’t deserve.. or that we’ve done nothing to earn.
During this interesting discussion, he brought up a story that was detailed in a Boston Globe article about a wedding celebration that took an unexpected turn at the Boston Hyatt in 1990, ending with the would-be bride showering the cities homeless… with grace.
It seems her former fiancee had gotten cold feet and backed out… leaving her stuck with the facilities rented, and no hope for a refund of the significant deposit that had been made months earlier.
In a move made famous by a 2000 year old parable, she sent messengers out to the streets… to the homeless shelters and missions… to let them know they were invited to a celebration.
As reported… for one evening, the palatial hotel filled with Boston’s lowliest citizens… street-people, beggars… and addicts.
All were welcome.
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The point was that just as the Lord has freely given to us… so we should freely give to others… a very valid point, indeed.
You see, many years ago… I was shown grace.
I was the one who was down and out… sick and overweight… crippled and dying. And I was shown grace… a way out… a path to recovery.
And as the minister spoke, my mind drifted. Drifted back in time to that most important day… September 10th, 1968… the day I began to get my life back.
The day I received grace.
And from that moment, I have tried to carry this message of hope and recovery to alcoholics and addicts of all kinds, and to share the grace that was given to me those many years ago.
I wish you peace this Holiday Season, and look forward to speaking with you soon.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I just read Gerald Mays book Addiction and Grace. What a beautiful message your email says. Reaffirms what I read. Thanks. Cathy
Shelly: I am delighted to see this use of grace (God’s unconditional, unmerited love toward us)… both sharing the bride’s use of it and your example of it in your life in 1968. I’d like to share this in our Fresh Bread service in January. It will fit in with our theme at that service. Thanks for the reminder.
Rev. Dave Wilkinson
First United Methodist Church of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Great message, Shelly
Merry Christmas, send us some Florida sunshine.