Grace and graciousness

My husband and I did a very rare thing for us this weekend.

We went to see a movie at the movie theater.

No streaming Netflix.  No Redbox rental.  No freebie from the library.  No internet documentary.  A real movie. (Ok, ok...we went before noon with all the other old people so we could save a couple bucks.)

I suggested "Ides of March."  Of course my husband accused me of wanting to see it so that I could ogle watch George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.  He's wrong, of course.  I heard it was a good story.  (Believe me?? I won't lie, both men are very easy on the eyes!)

All kidding aside, it was a good flick.  We both enjoyed it.  It gave us a little afternoon conversation about the story line and character motivation.  (Don't worry, I won't give any spoilers in the post.)

What I noticed about several of the characters was that they each desperately needed grace from someone else. Instead what they got was being told that they had "messed up and were out."  Even in one circumstance where it looked like grace was being offered, the driving motivation was selfishness and personal agenda.

What a parallel to real life.

How many times do we see someone who desperately needs grace because they messed up big time and all we have to offer them are platitudes and personal agendas?  We roll right over them with words meant to hurt and cause the other to feel small.  How hard would it be to let go of our own agendas and offer grace - undeserved favor - that would give a balm of healing to the person who KNOWS they messed up?

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. ~Anne Lamott