Grace

Grace
by Wendell Berry
for Gurney Norman, quoting him

The woods is shining this morning.
Red, gold and green, the leaves
lie on the ground, or fall,
or hang full of light in the air still.
Perfect in its rise and in its fall, it takes
the place it has been coming to forever.
It has not hastened here, or lagged.
See how surely it has sought itself,
its roots passing lordly through the earth.
See how without confusion it is
all that it is, and how flawless
its grace is. Running or walking, the way
is the same. Be still. Be still.
“He moves your bones, and the way is clear.”


Wendell Berry is one of my favorite poets. 
     Berry's poem Grace reminds me both how to live and why I live. "Running or walking, the way is the same." What a beautiful reminder we are to slow down and take in all we can, while we can.  God plants us in "the place (we) have been coming to forever".

     God has a place for each of us. God has a place for me! We are so loved that God seeks to guide us to what is good and right. He seeks to love us into relationship with Him!
     One of the most beautiful images in the Old Testament is in Genesis 3:8, " Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (NIV).

     I can imagine God, the LORD, walking through Eden taking pleasure in all He created. I see God as playful and fun. He was walking in the garden "in the cool of the day",(which would have been near sunset), looking for Adam & Eve. Not because they sinned and He wanted to punish them, but because walking with Adam was something God did every day. He loved Adam so much He wanted to share the most beautiful time of the day with him in the most beautiful place in God's creation!
     It's the same for you and me as well. God wants to share the best of life with us. He wants us to live free from fear and guilt. But, sadly, we can't live everyday free of those 2 heavy burdens. Why? Because we are broken and sinful. But, with God's help, we can live some days in that ideal state of being. Walking with God through life's garden in the cool of the day; finding joy and peace in all God has created, and laughing with Him at the playfullness of creation.