The Catbird Seat

I’ve been meaning to blog about this for a couple of weeks now…but, alas, have not made the time. Having just arrived home from work, tired, jittery and a little bit cranky, it seems that now is the time.

We’ve been going to church at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church (PCA) until we “land” somewhere permanently.

Every week we go, we comment on how ridiculous it is that we have been visiting there.

It’s nowhere near our home.

It’s huge.

We only know a few people there (all OMPC staff members), unlike a couple of other churches around our area where we know at least a few more people…like, maybe 5 or 6. (Including my family members.)

We don’t have the time right now to track 30 minutes (one-way) down Hwy 280 to get involved in LIFE groups, Worship ministry, or Youth stuff.

And with my work schedule (nights, weekends), and the girls’ sleep schedule (E in bed by 7p)…well, it makes integrating there somewhat difficult.

But we like it nonetheless. So we continue to go.

We went to worship a few Sundays ago, and at the designated “Greet one another and act interested” time, we introduced ourselves to the people sitting next to us.

It went like this:
Us: “Hi, I’m Cathy.”
“I’m Paul.”

Them: “I’m James.”
“And I’m Grace.”

Me: “Oh! Grace. I love that name.”

Then we turned to the people sitting in front of us.

Us: “Hi, I’m Cathy.”
“I’m Paul.”

Them: “Hi. I’m Bill, and this is…(to his wife)”
“(she interrupts)…Grace.”

Hmm. Grace in front of us and Grace beside us.

We were surrounded by Grace.

As the thought formed in my head, I felt God smile. Big.

I teared up and smiled, too. God smiled even bigger. (I think I actually heard it.)

Boy, do I need Grace right now, Lord. I’m really struggling.

I know you do. I’m here. And you really ARE surrounded by Grace.

So today, as I write this, I’m thinking to myself, what IS Grace?

The ditty I’ve always heard is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” (Acronym for GRACE)

Which, though true, is trite and stupid-sounding and useless to me right now.

So, I’ve decided I would write what Grace is to me, right now in the trenches.

GRACE is being right on the edge of a migraine all day at work, but never actually getting it.

GRACE is my husband telling me to sit down and read blogs and relax, when he really needs me to come and help out with the kids while he gets dinner ready.

GRACE is not swearing, cussing out, or otherwise losing my cool with customers and staff at work, even though I really really wanted to.

GRACE is being given a morning shift (8am to 4pm) at a store I like in exchange for a mid-shift (11am to 7pm) in a store that is very un-fun for me. [Thanks, Melissa!]

GRACE is having a husband say, “I understand. It’s okay.” when I have been angry all day, and not really knowing why.

GRACE is turning on the CD/radio in the car and having Sara Groves sing about “Love and pride can’t occupy the same space in the heart. And only one will make you free.” on the way to and from work: a place of great pride and self-sufficiency for me.

GRACE is walking into a roomful of people you don’t know, and finding yourself drawn into a great place of Worship, even though 3 minutes before that, you were wondering why you were there.

GRACE is having 4 offers on your for-sale house, just about the time you’d given up hope of selling it.

GRACE is hard to give, harder (sometimes) to see, and easy to dismiss. GRACE is good. GRACE is necessary in order to keep your heart alive in a world that throws sticks and stones and shoots fiery arrows at your Faith.

God is full of GRACE for me. And for you.

Praise God for Grace!

(Oh, and the photo? Building progress at OMPC aptly titled, “Growing in Grace”! Sound familiar UPC ladies?)

Filed under: General, Catbird, Like a fire, Conversations with God, Random Thoughts on March 19th, 2007