My first job out of college was working for a television station. The station’s owner lived on the East Coast, so a visit from him wasn't taken lightly. In keeping with Murphy's Law, what could go wrong, did, and at the worst possible time. I wrecked one of the station's vehicles on one of the days he was here.
I was sure I would be fired. The business was barely making money; thousands of dollars in damage to a vehicle wouldn’t be tolerated. As I got back to the building, the owner himself came out the front door to meet me in the parking lot. I was surprised when all he was concerned about was my well-being. He shrugged off the damage to the truck, “You weren’t doing anything wrong. This is why we have insurance.”
It was an act of kindness and grace I did not expect to receive, especially in a business that is known for being harsh and unforgiving. When I think about those moments I have received grace from someone else, I find the magnitude of God’s grace to be unimaginable.
There are plenty of days I have trouble forgiving myself for my mistakes, and I see plenty of faults in my own life. It is tough to imagine a God who loves me as I am and is so gracious and merciful to love me unconditionally. There is probably no better expression of that unconditional love than “Amazing Grace”:
The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
God loves us as we are but doesn’t want us to stay this way. God wants us to continue to grow in love and grace, so we love others the way God love us. As we do this, we live into the commandment Jesus said was the greatest; to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
--Pastor Michael Turner
Topeka Grace and Big Springs UMC
michael.turner@greatplainsumc.org
Prayer for Reflection
God of love and grace, you see us as we are, yet you love us unconditionally. There are no words to express the depth of our gratitude for your grace; help us live so that others may see your love and grace through us. Amen.
