A Community of Grace

"Have you noticed in your past experience that your kind interpretations were almost always truer than your harsh one?"
Lawrence G. Lovasik



I once lived in a community that was vicious in its attacks on one another.  The game of survival seemed to be built one's ability to put others down.  I wondered about this for a long time and finally concluded that people were hoping to end up on top of the pile, not by elevating themselves but rather by lowering others.  Its the kind of thing that you might do when you really don't think very much of yourself.

I have made quite a few mistakes in my life. Sometimes they were nothing more than gaffs that were embarrassing. At other times they were serious mistakes with serious consequences. One of the joys of having been a part of the Trinity Church community during the past twenty years is that this is a community of grace.  They have laughed with me at my gaffs and when I have made serious mistakes they have supported me and we have all carried on together.  All this comes from love.  It comes from the realization that we are all in this together and that genuine greatness does not come at the expense of others.  It recognizes that in most situations people's intentions and motives are genuine.  Communities who understand this prosper even as they support and build one another up.  Encourage one another daily.  The gift of encouragement is a gift from God.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17