When God's grace breaks through...

Today was another one of those days in which I experienced a deep sense of awakening to God's grace.

Let me start with a brief explanation of two concepts that will help you to understand my approach to faith and life in Christ better. In a very basic sense theology shows two approaches to consciousness of God.

There is the perenialist approach which can be likened to a river bed - in some seasons the river does not have water flowing between its banks. The banks are visible and the evidence of water having flowed there is visible, yet the water table has dropped and so the water itself is presnt beneath the surface, perhaps bubling through in a spring here and there, but to a large extent it remains hidden from view. My experience of God's grace is like this in many senses - I know God is present and active, the evidence is there, but perhaps I am not perceptive enough to see God clearly at work beneath the surface of my everyday life. However, every now and then God's grace breaks through and bring real life.

The other broad approach to God consciousness is called the constructivist approach. The approach is much more deductive than inductive - in other words, one constructs the experience of God's present grace by creating some kind of framework, schema or discipline. This is what prayer, Bible study, Sunday worship, fasting, acts of mercy and a host of other spiritual disciplines allow us to do. We facilitate an awareness of God's active presence by means of certain constructions of meaning.

I often rely on the constructivist approach to faith and spirituality to find and make meaning within the mundane and necessary tasks of my daily life. I pray frequently and in a disciplined manner, I give sacrificialy of my income, I fast weekly (and am currently on a 40 day partial fast - only eating one meal a day for 40 days). These things make me conscious of God, of others, and of myself. For example, for the last 10 days I have only eaten on meal a day. It reminds me that there are many persons who do not eat at all, that there are some who can only eat once a day, and that I far too frequently eat food for the wrong reasons - consuming much more than I need in a world where some have none. This simple act shapes my daily life, it fills me with compassion and it drives me to action. So, in response to my hunger I pray, I strategise to ensure that I find ways to feed as many hungry people as I can, and I gain control over something that can so easily control me.

All of this came home is a particularly significant way today! One of the joys of being conscious is that it gives one freedom! I have the freedom to look for God wherever God is present. I look for God in meetings, in times of conflict, in situations of stress, in creative engagements, and among diverse and different people. I found God in the talk that Eddie Andrews (the Western Province and Springbok Rugby player) gave at our office worship today. I found God at 'the Ark city of refuge' where our trust is helping to fund food, education and rehab. I found God in my family. I even find God in the posts to this blog.

And, at the end of the day I am grateful that God is active, present, and can be found. It just take a little bit of intention and some simple discipline for the miracle of God's grace to break through!

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Comments

[Anonymous]

Hi Dion.

Thank you for your blog! One of my spiritual disciplines is reading your blog :)

I have wanted to write to comments to your blog posts many times before, but then I get busy and procrastinate.

I am writing this to let you know that I diligently read your blog (as I think many others do) and I do appreciate it, although I do not always understand everything, Doctor.

I will take time to write a lenghty comment some or other time as I also have much compassion for the poor, the uneducated and oppressed.

Once a couple of years ago I prayed for your son, Liam, when he was so very sick. I prayed with Megan in my office. I was (and still is) the financial manager at IPFA where Megan was also employed.

Have a good day and say hi to Megan. IPFA is still standing, and that in itself is something to appreciate. Megan will understand this comment.

Thank you,

Etienne Cilliers

[Scout with the Cross]

Dion

You have such a good way with words. The anolgy of the river and the river bed ring so true as do having to have a discipline as well.

Thanks for being such an eloquent word smith and talking of the grace of God.

[digitaldion (Dion Forster)]

Hi Etienne,

I passed your greetings on to Megie, and she sends hers in return. We often think about IPFA and all the people there (and those who have moved on).

Thanks so much for the encouraging response to this post.

Rich blessings!

Dion