We
were in Winnipeg last night at a gathering of friends – some
friends from our current life and some from a previous life. There
was lots of catching up, lots of laughs, lots of good food. It was a
good time.
During
the course of the conversation, a story was told of farm hand who had
tipped his loaded harvest-hauling truck into a deep ditch. The
worker had managed to crawl out of the truck unharmed and walked back
to the farm, but didn't tell anyone about his mishap until the end of
the day.
Another
person commented that that probably wasn't a mistake that worker was
liable to make twice. And then he went on to tell another similar
story, but in this one, the worker who had dumped the truck had asked
his boss if he was going to fire him.
“Fire
you? Are you kidding? I just spent $30 000 on your education! Do
you think I'm going to fire you now and let someone else benefit from
that education? Not a chance!”
That
sounds to me like the grace of God.
We
(the royal “we”, meaning I) mess up royally and God chalks it up
to education, not an opportunity to cut us off from his love. That
is wild, humbling grace. Not only that, we don't even have to show
up in front of the boss by our dirty, messy selves. We have an
advocate who will speak on our behalf.
We
might even become better drivers of our lives with grace-filled
second chances like this. And hopefully more gracious to our fellow truck-drivers when they end up in awkward circumstances.
knowing
that tribulation produces perseverance;
and
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Now
hope does not disappoint,
because
the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by
the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans
5:3 – 5 (NKJV)
But
if anyone does sin,
we
have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
1
John 2:2 (NIV)
other unfortunate places
This is a great reminder, Donna. Keep writing. I always enjoy your thoughts.
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