Mercy

The Reason for Hope…

Today, March 25th, is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The readings for this day, are a reminder, “God is with us” (Isaiah 8:10), “for nothing will be impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37), and guidance to contemplate relationship with God. An opportunity to consider how one responds to the call of the ever present God of love, mercy, and redemption. What happens at the thought of “I come to do your will.” (Psalm 40:8a, 9a; Hebrews 10:7b, 9a), or Mary’s response of “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” (Luke 1:38)?

Spending time with the road traveled by the Prophet Isaiah, the Psalmist, Mary, and St. Paul, one can draw inspiration, perhaps more easily, because we know, or we can read about the ways in which God was with them and enabled them to fulfill the path that was theirs, in the face of trials and tribulations.   

In the first reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, it is written, “I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:14).

The verses that follow this passage, are referred to as the joining of the two sticks. That is, God’s intention or call… God’s will for the tribes of Juda and Joseph to come together and for the people to be united.

“Thus says the Lord God: I will soon take the Israelites from among the nations to which they have gone and gather them from all around to bring them back to their land. I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one king for them all. They shall never again be two nations, never again be divided into two kingdoms.” – Ezekiel 37:21-22

Thinking about this in terms of the division in families, communities, and the world at large today, in what ways do you see the Spirit of God shining through in your life, your community, and the world?

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. – Psalm 130:7

Where do you experience love, mercy, and unity? And how do you desire to be an agent or a partner in not only carrying, but also sharing the essence of these attributes of God?

Looking around and sitting with personal challenges and the state of the world today can be daunting at times. There is much that is awry and issues that can seem insurmountable. With these realities it can be tempting to not look around or to not focus much attention or thought on the problems that exist. However, not ignoring what’s going on, is part of what it means to carry the cross—to live in reality, whatever it may be, praying and proceeding with hope that is eternal, and that resides in and seeks to be guided by God, for whom nothing is impossible.      

As St. Paul writes, “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.” (Romans 8:11). How do you desire the Spirit of the Lord to be present to you at this moment? In what areas do you desire greater light and life?  

In lots of ways, the times we are experiencing lend themselves to the deception that we are dealing with the impossible and that throwing the towel in, or walking away is the answer. Yet, faith beckons one to pause and to notice. Who or what is deeming the situation a lost cause? What is the source? Is it a human summation? From what spirit does it come?

In chapter 11 of the Gospel According to John, verses 1-45, we read about the raising of Lazarus. In order to go to the home of his good friends, Mary, Martha, and the now deceased Lazarus, Jesus must return to the town where people have tried to stone him, more than once. In addition, by the time Jesus arrives there, it has been four days since Lazarus’ lifeless body was placed in the tomb. Many would deem this situation hopeless or impossible. Why does Jesus go back to the place where he is mocked, and people are seeking his demise? Why does Jesus even attempt to raise Lazarus who is clearly beyond resuscitation?

Because Jesus is Life! He is full of love and mercy, the embodiment of God, and death, in any of its forms, cannot and will not defeat Him, or those who belong to Him. For it is through Him, that all things are possible.      

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany,
the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil
and dried his feet with her hair;
it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
So the sisters sent word to him saying,
“Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said,
“This illness is not to end in death,
but is for the glory of God,
that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill,
he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples,
“Let us go back to Judea.”
The disciples said to him,
“Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you,
and you want to go back there?”
Jesus answered,
“Are there not twelve hours in a day?
If one walks during the day, he does not stumble,
because he sees the light of this world.
But if one walks at night, he stumbles,
because the light is not in him.”
He said this, and then told them,
“Our friend Lazarus is asleep,
but I am going to awaken him.”
So the disciples said to him,
“Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.”
But Jesus was talking about his death,
while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep.
So then Jesus said to them clearly,
“Lazarus has died.
And I am glad for you that I was not there,
that you may believe.
Let us go to him.”
So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples,
“Let us also go to die with him.”
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus
had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary
to comfort them about their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,
she went to meet him;
but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask of God,
God will give you.”
Jesus said to her,
“Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord.
I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who is coming into the world.”
When she had said this,
she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying,
“The teacher is here and is asking for you.”
As soon as she heard this,
she rose quickly and went to him.
For Jesus had not yet come into the village,
but was still where Martha had met him.
So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her
saw Mary get up quickly and go out,
they followed her,
presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him,
she fell at his feet and said to him,
“Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping,
he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said,
“Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said,
“Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man
have done something so that this man would not have died?”
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.
It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him,
“Lord, by now there will be a stench;
he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe
you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone.
And Jesus raised his eyes and said,
“Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me;
but because of the crowd here I have said this,
that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this,
He cried out in a loud voice,
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out,
tied hand and foot with burial bands,
and his face was wrapped in a cloth.
So Jesus said to them,
“Untie him and let him go.”
Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what he had done began to believe in him. – John 11:1-45

In the Light…

Standing up to take a break, stretch a little, and take a few steps around before returning to work in a temporary workspace for the day, the sign pictured below came into view. I read it and looked around some more. Taking in the environment and noticing more fully the ambience created by the natural light, gratitude and appreciation arose for the light and the souls who not only thought to share these interesting facts about sunlight and its benefits, but who also acted to shed the light, both in word and experience.

Oftentimes in the course of a day or week, we can be quick to move from task to task, and perhaps we miss the sign, put off the call, or rush through or past it, on the way to something else. Yet, much of the time, that thing, whatever it may be, that has a greater hold on our attention, robs us, “like a thief in the night,” of being present in a moment or for an opportunity to experience that which enlivens the soul, helps us to look beyond our own, often limited, schedules, scopes, or agendas, and reminds us of what’s really important—our connectedness, how we respect and appreciate each other—differences and all—and how we share our time and what we have, as blessings from Above.

The Lord is kind and merciful. – Psalm 103:8a

Love Illuminates…

Stepping out on an overcast night, part of the sky is aglow. It’s as if the moon, in its fullest state, is straining to be seen through the clouds. When, in actuality, the moon, in its fullest state, authentic as can be, is not held back by the clouds. Neither are we.

In chapter 5 of the Gospel According to Matthew, it is written, “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.’” (v. 20).

While the scribes and Pharisees were learned and appeared to be fastidious in their commitment to God and practice of the laws, many of them were missing the most important piece of the law. That is, the need to serve with love, compassion, and mercy. Without these components, an oath becomes empty words, the law loses its integrity, and hearts become self-righteous rather than righteous.

Jesus brings fulfillment through his authenticity. He doesn’t just talk about the Way, but he also lives it, inviting us to join him, and enabling us to strive toward love, compassion, and mercy, in all we do, while also being accountable. And when we accept the invitation, at the end of the day, not even the clouds or darkness hold us back.

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” ― Zora Neale Hurston

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful –
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.”

– Matthew 5:17-37
Gold circle representing the world filled with sky blue color and a white heart with a white cross in the center.

In the Wrapping…

The first reading for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time speaks of helping those in need as the way to overcome darkness. The Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, “If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” (Is 58:9b-10). Perhaps this can be seen as an invitation to greater unity through the exercise of mercy and compassion. Think about a time when you were shown mercy and compassion. What was that experience like? How did it impact you? Oftentimes, in showing mercy and compassion, a greater sense of unity is born and the light within each of us shines brighter with Life, making the darkness in the world, what it really is, “less than.”

In the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes, “…my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:4-5). It’s human nature to want to understand and to make logical conclusions. It’s just the way we are. However, when the determination to meet this need to know or to make sense of happenings becomes more driven by human motivation, the results tend to run narrow, and create vision like that of being in a tunnel. It is then, that our understanding becomes warped and more of an obstacle than an aid to seeing the “greater than” that exists in each situation. Instead, it leads to a hardening of both one’s mind and heart, and an approach that pulls one away from living with authenticity and integrity and making choices in the light of truth and justice.

In the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, we read, “… I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33).

In striving to make choices that are truly beneficial—ones that embrace love, peace, and justice for oneself as well as others—balance is necessary, and the starting place for that is in one’s heart. It is only in our hearts that we can begin to understand in a way that will lead us to what is best. It is only in our hearts that Jesus, the light of the world, shows us the way that is truly just. And it is only through our hearts that our motivation becomes purer, our minds move toward a broader way of being, and we can genuinely shine before others, giving glory to God (Mt 5:16).

So, when I can’t understand, show indifference or disdain, begin to make assumptions, can’t give the benefit of the doubt, and can’t wrap my head around something, perhaps it’s because, first, I need to be wrapping my heart around it.

Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
they are gracious and merciful and just.
Well for them who are gracious and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice. – Psalm 112:4-5

Social Security…

Listen to the flowers
As they huddle together.
From one petal to another,
Be attentive they say,
Perhaps in various states of array,
All rising from one stem, but in their own way.
Looking around, what do they see?
What’s happening?
What’s that, you say?
Cacophony must not dissuade.
Take heart and persevere,
Regardless of whatever, either, or any way.
From one petal to another,
Life goes on, and Eternity prevails
In taking great care
And consideration of each other.
Listen to the flowers,
From one petal to another,
They are one, though many,
As they “humble” together.

“Your neighbor is your other self dwelling behind a wall. In understanding, all walls shall fall down. Who knows but that your neighbor is your better self wearing another body? See that you love him as you would yourself. He too is a manifestation of the Most High, whom you do not know.” – Kahlil Gibran

Vantage…

Facing the ocean from the walk above or the sand upon the beach it’s easy to stay in place and feel content, and to do so without anywhere near the effort taken to get there. Not only that, but also to slide toward becoming removed from reality—all the lives that exist in various states on and all around the beach and the city or town that encompasses it—and the opportunity to take a life-giving part in it. It’s interesting to think about how swiftly one can be transported to “a world without cares,” with the sound of each wave that breaks upon the shore or the refreshing feeling as each wave washes over everything in its path.

Now, what’s it like to imagine that perhaps this (being caught up in the surroundings) is what it was like for the rich man in the Gospel according to Luke (chapter 16, verses 19-31), before he died?

When we read the Gospel for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (below), we learn that a poor man named Lazarus was a constant fixture at the rich man’s door. However, we are not told anything about an interaction(s) between the rich man and Lazarus. This is likely because what matters more than whether the rich man was unaware of, ignored, was indifferent to, or held disdain for Lazarus, is the distance that his worldly aims and wealth put between his ability to help and his desire to do so.

While the rich man was alive, he experienced what is sold in today’s world as “the good life.” However, it led him to becoming insulated from a complete picture of reality (not everyone has it good). And without that, it’s understandable that it would be harder for him not only to choose more wisely, but also to recognize that his openness to, and desire for living in ways that are generative had become diminished.

Neither the rich man nor his brothers could learn from the past (Moses and the prophets), not because the knowledge and wisdom wasn’t available to them, but because their hearts were divided. This—the chasm—is what prevented them from receiving the grace they really needed and making choices for the greater good.

May we be more aware and set our hearts on God to strip away the falsehoods that lead us astray, and to close the chasm that pulls us apart.

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied,
‘My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” – Luke 16:19-31

I Believe…

I believe that sometimes society seems to be hanging by a thread, but that’s not all I believe…

I believe that God creates similarities, differences, and various dimensions intentionally, rather than carbon copies, or only one kind or way of being.

I believe freedom resides within and is a gift from God entrusted to each, to do with as one wills—as in free will.

I believe that it’s up to each to choose for themselves that which affects, most especially, oneself.

I believe and, also trust, that God has more wisdom than all of us together, seeing things we cannot see and understanding in ways which humans simply cannot.

I believe that to love like Jesus is to love like God—with great depth and breadth, yet personal and unique onto each of us as if we were the only one.

I believe that where hearts and minds are open to the Spirit that is Holy, unity and diversity not only live, but also thrive.

I believe that true victory does not rob others from choosing for themselves, and that what some may celebrate as a “win,” God does not.

I believe the compassion and mercy of God is all encompassing, and that clearly humankind’s is often not.

Most of all, I believe that the greater glory belongs to God, all of “this” will fade away, and that ultimately, through the hearts that are willing, God’s unifying way of love, compassion, and mercy prevails.

I believe that sometimes society seems to be hanging by a thread, but maybe sometimes that’s what we need to be.

And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. – Luke 2:19

Now, Then, and Once Again…

Every day, no matter where on the face of the earth one might be, there is a source of natural light, whether it be from the sun, moon, stars, or one Aurora or another. Even though, depending on the clouds, it may seem otherwise, there is always a form of natural light that is present. And whether one is a night owl or a day person, or anywhere between, one way or another, there is light to be experienced, and it is pretty much constant.

As with natural, or pure, light, the same constancy exists with the Holy Trinity. That is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the unity of which life is begotten, truth arises, and authenticity is born. So, one might ask, where does faith come in?

Faith is built by the experience of connection. What, and how, one connects with the world around them, often influences the direction of belief for all involved. This is why the greatest commandment, the one upon which everything else depends, is “to love.” Love connects us to the Holy Trinity, all that is truly good, and is the way in which an individual has the greatest impact. The opposite is true as well. For example, when people are asked to think of interactions they’ve had and that stand out the most, what often comes to mind are situations where they felt uplifted and supported or ones where they felt demeaned or disappointed. At the core of these experiences and what follows from them, is the impact of love or the absence of love, and faith tends to lean that way as well.

When one strives to love as Jesus did, faith becomes evidenced in action that is inspired and generative. We move from sole interest to the interest of all souls—love, patience, kindness, compassion, mercy, and so on. The Holy Trinity is transformative in that through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we seek to live in unison and life, like light and truth, becomes a testament from good to better, to even better yet.

Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,
and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. – Rom 5:1-5

In a Word…

If you had to describe Easter in one word, what word would you use? While there is a plethora of words that could be chosen, what words speak more profoundly to you today, and what one word would be most fitting to encapsulate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?

Reflecting on the Triduum, with all the words, images, and actions that take place from Holy Thursday thru the Easter Vigil, the word authenticity seems apropos. Jesus taught by example and told his disciples what was going to happen, and then it did happen. His words and actions were true from start to finish. However, Jesus was not alone in his authenticity (be who you are, do as you are).

Looking more intently at the words and actions of some of the other individuals closest to Jesus, one might come to see that they were also being themselves during those moments. For example, Judas succumbed to betraying Jesus through his real-life weakness, identifying more strongly with money and power than anything else at that time. Then there’s Peter denying Jesus three times. This is not a reflection of his sincerity and desire to follow Jesus, but rather just part of where he was and what he was capable of at that time. Many of the other disciples, ran and hid after Jesus was arrested. Some did not. For example, the many women who followed Jesus, and John who witnessed the crucifixion by Mary’s side.

Think about these individuals as fellow human beings who were at the same time and place in history, while having different experiences, internal dispositions, and outward responses to the same events. In what ways do you see the beauty of God’s mercy and love shine through loud and clear? What’s it like to know that regardless of shortcomings or strengths, Jesus loved and accepted them all, seeing their value as beloved and part of creation?

Oftentimes, we can look to label words, decisions, or actions as right or wrong. However, in the process, we neglect to see what we are forfeiting. Jesus, by seeing us for who we are, accepting us where we are, and loving us as we are, not only touches our hearts and enlightens our minds, but also moves us toward resurrection, turning authenticity into Alleluia.

Going about each day, there are many words that we speak and things that we do. What are the things said or done with purpose, and what kind? What do our words and actions mean to us, what inspires them, and how do they reflect eternal life to the world around us?

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
his mercy endures forever. – Psalm 118:1

In Any Case…

In Greek mythology, keeping the gods and goddesses happy was central to life. So, temples were built, activities were held, sacrifices were made, all to please the gods and goddesses so that the people in turn might be helped along or rewarded rather than punished. Having recently seen a show that involved Greek mythology and the challenge of relationships, reading “…be reconciled to God,” in chapter 5, verse 20 of the Second Letter to the Corinthians, strikes a chord. And then there is the Gospel reading for the Fourth Sunday of Lent which includes the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), which really leads one to think about relationships. Combining the two, it can be intriguing to look more closely at the differences and similarities between one’s relationship with God and one’s relationships with others (family, friends, acquaintances, etc.). And perhaps consider further, the impact of both the things we can see and those we think we can see but cannot.

Looking to St. Paul and to the Prodigal Son, it’s all about stripping away the extraneous, drawing closer to what lies within, and trusting one’s experience. However, not one’s experience of self or others, but looking for, remembering and trusting one’s experience of God within the interactions and dealings we have with one another.

Imagine riding along from start to finish with Saul of Tarsus, soldier… warrior, active persecutor of early Christians who was literally knocked off his horse, called to conversion, and way down the road, became St. Paul.

Envision travelling with the Prodigal Son. The son who took his inheritance while his father was still living and turned his back on everyone and everything that he had previously known. He had to take his own path and have his own way; it was just something he needed to do. However, on that path, he lost everything, but then gained so much more than he could have ever dreamed of, by owning the truth and returning home, where he was immediately welcomed and embraced.

For St. Paul and the Prodigal Son, it turned out that the things that drove them… the things that sucked them in as being so important or so necessary, weren’t. And while it may have seemed to them as though they lost everything in the process of their falling, they did not. Both experienced the kindness and love of God both directly and through others—the grace that led them to pivot—and it is through that, that they came to know their true worth as God’s beloved, and that what really matters can never be taken away, only shared and magnified.