Grace and Only Grace

We all are taught as children to discern right from wrong or at least some dysfunctional redneck-ized family theology that supersedes any logical thought streamlined by normal folk (if there are such people). Me... well my mother and father instilled a deep sense of respect for others especially those older than me which was only reinforced by the great influence of my grandparents on my basic theological and socio-ethical beliefs. I did however inherit a great lacking in the way of political disenfranchisement and legalistic conformity. My father, a veteran of Vietnam, was bitter and deeply wounded from the experience which flowed out into everything else in our family system. This was the mute factor on my political instruction- don't ask was the policy. I did inherit some good theology early on until we were disenfranchised by a condemnation from our local Baptist church for our faithless living- whatever and whoever made them judge I have yet to discover. This diaspora from the church lasted until I was 18- thank the good LORD and Luke Heffley it didn't last longer. This brings me to the burning ember in my heart today- this concept of grace. On an aside- if another "Christian" tells one of my students they are going to Hell because... (there are many on the list) I might just blow my top. When did we as horribly flawed and hopelessly unfaithful to God begin to be self appointed "righteous" judges of our fellow human? Give me a break. We all need to get real and see at least a little past our own navel every once in a while.
Now back to grace... it was grace that wooed me back into the Christian faith and made me alter my life plans, dreams, ambitions, and sacrifice my whole life for. The idea that God's love for humanity was NOT- I repeat NOT dependent upon anything we did or do. That is how I was able to reason a God who loves unconditionally without crashing from misplaced judgement. God's grace is an infallible reality and it is a gentle as a soft breeze at times and other times it is so courageous people would die for its cause. Its is actively just and personally and overwhelmingly pervasive- invading my deepest being and illuminating my hidden places leaving me naked, vulnerable, and exposed to God and others. God's grace is not just a nice, trite word we sling around. It is so deep I can't get my mind totally around yet so liberating that which I do know is hopeful and charged with direction. Nothing in me deserves the gracious life I am offered each day. Nothing in me deserves the influence given me with my students and church. Nothing in me deserves the benefit of a family as full as mine. It is only through God grace, God's gift of grace that I can live today. It is only through God loving grace that I can even look at myself in the mirror- I know he sees each of us as beautiful regardless of our self view- that God, through miracle and wonder created us- our 'isms, our quirk, and yet sees great potential, great hope in each of us- this is a glimpse of grace. If I were to try to live out my life from a fear of Hell I would have stopped living long ago. It is because I experience God grace daily that I find hope and seek to unearth that hope in all of the people I come into contact with. For me it is just this- grace and only grace- to this cause- I will give my life, my hope, my dreams and lay it all down knowing that truth and life live within God grace-filled love for EVERY human. May that grace invade every one's life and change the world from the inside out.