An old—and unworkable—policy from the Chicago trainyards once declared: “When two engines approach each other on the same track, neither can move until the other moves first.” It reads like an all-too familiar description of what happens when we find ourselves in conflict with someone. We stay put; we sit tight. We wait for the other to make the first move toward apology or reconciliation. Just as soon as our wounded pride is soothed and our correctness underlined, we’ll become—we promise—the forgiving persons we’ve pledged to be. It’s marvelously fortunate for us that the Father doesn’t act that way—that He takes on Himself the responsibility for moving toward us when we’re stuck in shame and brokenness. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:19). Grace always moves toward pain and guilt and bitterness. It doesn’t pause to grind in wrongs, or tally all infractions and offenses. It seeks the peace for which we were created, the friendship that’s infinitely more valuable than the sum of others’ failures. “Be kind to one another,” the Scripture says, “tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). And you will stay in grace. - Bill Knott
Note: If you are blessed by GraceNotes, we invite you to subscribe.
GraceNotes: Baptize Us Anew (April 26, 2019)
GraceNotes: The Rising Song (April 19, 2019)
GraceNotes: Released From Fear (April 12, 2019)
Gerald Kingbeil: Thy Kingdom Come (April 2019)
GraceNotes: Trusting Grace (April 5, 2019)
GraceNotes: Morning Has Broken (March 29, 2019)
GraceNotes: Outside and Above (March 22, 2019)
GraceNotes: Grace Becomes Us (March 15, 2019)
Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste, An Accidental Witness (March 2019)
Journeys With Jesus: The Dreaded Diagnosis (March 2019)
GraceNotes: Always Amazing (March 8, 2019)
GraceNotes: All Are Gifted (March 1, 2019)
GraceNotes: Grace Has A Face (Feb 22, 2019)
GraceNotes: Freely Received and Gladly Given (Feb 15, 2019)
GraceNotes: New and Better Stories (Feb 8, 2019)
Lael Caesar: Races (Feb 2019)
GraceNotes: Healed—And Healed Again (Feb 1, 2019)
GraceNotes: What It Means To Be Held (Jan 25, 2019)
GraceNotes: The Work of Faith (Jan 18, 2019)
GraceNotes: Costly Grace (Jan 11, 2019)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Tangent on Veritas Catholic Network
Life After Ministry
Devoted To Prayer
Conspirituality
Astrology of the Week Ahead with Chani Nicholas