The Lens of Grace

Climbing the ladder and keeping up with the Joneses seems to be a way of the world. Life can feel pretty overwhelming through the lens of competition and judgment. Perfectionism and pride squeeze the grace out of life, but what if we are missing the real way to live?

Do to others as you would have them do to you.
~Luke 6:31

Through the lens of grace, the world has a beauty that eyes might overlook when caught up in one’s self. Grace makes way for breathing in God’s creation and seeing life through His lens. We are made in His image but we often forget to see as He sees. In Christ, we are made new and He calls us to seek Him in every moment…but sometimes, we don’t look at the world the way Jesus does at all. Are our eyes missing what His eyes see?

Grace abolishes road rage and selfish ambition. Mommy wars end where grace begins. Prideful hearts look at the heart of another before judgment shows its ugly way. The merciful way of our Savior calls us to think of others before ourselves. When we open our eyes to the lives around us, our hearts extend the compassion that Jesus commanded us to show the world, the love that only comes from Him.

Selfish ways and pride can be blinders to what is really happening around us, but the Creator truly and fully sees His creation and knows our hearts. The waitress that didn’t quite get the order right is a mom of little ones. She is tired from waking with a restless toddler, last night. The babysitter she pays to watch her babies, so that she can provide for her family each day costs the majority of her pay-check, but she perseveres for the sake of the tiny lives that look up to her and call her “Mommy.” Do we see her, really see her? Grace looks past the tray of iced teas that slipped from her hands. Grace leaves a large tip anyway, because to God: hearts matter and we can put this life ahead of our own agendas because our eyes are open.

The crazy driver on the roadway received a phone call this morning that his grandmother doesn’t have much more time. He simply wants to get there, to be with her in her hospital room on this last day. Grace pauses to let another go first, because we’re all going somewhere that matters to our own hearts. Grace says, “Go before me. Take your turn first.” When our eyes are open to hearts, our actions have room to speak love.

I miss this. I go too fast, rushing through life focused on putting checks on the list of to-dos. That’s the temptation of focusing on my own life and forgetting the lives of others.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

We all have the choice of perspective, this weekend. We can focus on self or focus on Jesus. Focusing on ourselves will always lead to hurry, worry, pride, and can pave the way for competition…or even depression and destruction. Focus on self…that’s a lonely road to walk. We’ve all chosen that path before. With Jesus, there is a better way, an abundant way to live and to see. The focus on Jesus will always direct us to focus on the hearts around us. Always.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
~John 15:13

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
~1 John 3:16

May we speak, wait, drive, smile, and act in a way that brings glory to our Creator as we show our care for His creation: the lives of others. Our weekends will abound with opportunities to see the hearts and needs of others. May our eyes be open. May we see others through the lens of grace.

Happiest of weekends to you!
With love,
~Courtney