Well, I think It's Grace

I am trying to find grace or an understanding of grace. I intend to convey my own opinions, as well as others' opinions on grace. I want to explore the nature of grace; is it unconditional or conditional, is it from God or do we as creatures of free will work for it? Can grace be rejected in any way? Is it more about forgiveness or healing? I hope to answer these question and more through contemporary theologians, student interviews, and my own experiences and thoughts.

[sylvia-tilly]

 Ages of the Land of Narnia - Age of Conquest (½)

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[unicornempire]

I. Love this. 

Love it.

Oh my god

yes.

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This is it, I found it, the funniest post on this entire godsforsaken website

[usatodaysports]

Examples of overwhelming kindness following the Boston Marathon explosions.

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[graciousfinder]

Peaceful

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Innocence and Happiness

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Love

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Relfections

Grace is associated with forgiveness or mercy or acceptance, but I want it to be associated with healing.  Healing doesn't imply sin or that a person has done something wrong.  I would life grace to shift to the healing direction.  It promotes a more positive image of grace overall.

[graciousfinder]

AN

Me: Define grace

AN: Grace is the act of forgiving because you acknowledging that no person is perfect and mistakes will occur.

Me: Name images or songs you think of when you hear the word grace.

AN:When I think of a sunset or sunrise, someone taking time to help another person, parents laughing when their baby spills something, a husband or wife forgiving one another for the hurtful words or looks. or a best friend accepting the apology of a friend that really messed up.

Me: Is grace associated only with religion?

AN: I am not sure if Grace is only associated with Religion but in my experience with Grace it has been my faith and religious background that has helped me give Grace and receive it.

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KE seems to be in line with Luther on the Courtroom drama.

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KE

Me: What is your definition of grace?

KE: Grace is the mercy of God that saves you on judgment day or from the trial that you are going through.

Me: What images, music, movies, or stories do you think of when you hear the word grace?

KE: I think of a person that is praying and crying with tears of joy when I think of grace. For music it doesnt have to be gospel or anything like that, but needs to be about redemption.

Me: Is grace only related to religion?

KE: No, grace could also be the feeling you receive when things start going good for you again after a lot of things going bad.

Me: Is there a time when you experienced grace?

KE: I felt God's grace one time when I was really little. In had a lot of breathing problems when I first moved to Indiana and mom and dad were worried about it. Dad said a prayer over me and I felt instant relief and have never had that problem since. It is by the grace of God that I am able to sleep in peace each night without those problems anymore because there was nothing physically wrong with me, yet I was gasping for breath for about a week straight and only getting worse as time went on.

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[graciousfinder]

I also feel MR is talking about liberation when she describes grace, given the images she thought of were freedom, Gandhi, and walking from prison.

[graciousfinder]

Circumstances by Buju Banton fits with MR's definition of grace. She believes grace is peaceful and helpful. Circumstances also brings up the question of human nature; one of the lines is "Circumstances made me what I am/ Was I born a violent man"? I feel this goes with grace because many wonder if grace has always been or was it a response to human nature of corruption.  Hughes would say that grace has always been present, it's called a primordial grace.

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MR

Me: What is your definition of grace?

MR: I look at Grace as being defined a Mercy. When given a grace period, or shown grace for something, we are being shown something in a merciful way.

Me: What images/pictures, music, stories do you think of when you hear the word grace?

MR: People being let go from prison, freedom, God, Gandhi.

Me: Is grace only associated with religion?

MR: Many times, I believe it is. However, as is the term faith, they did not originate from religion. On a more basic level, grace is something that can be experienced by anyone, no matter religious background.

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Interviews

I interviewed a few of my friends and here they are.

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Everything had rhythm. Everything dances.

Maya Angelou

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Dancing

With all these hymnals and movements, I am reminded of Krista Hughes' Dance of Grace.  I especially like the communal aspect of Hughes' Dance of Grace.  Grace is individual, but it can be "communal and relational, inviting each and all in ways that foster the flourishing of all beings" (31).  I enjoy the interconnectedness of the Dance of Grace; Everything is dancing!

[graciousfinder]

Amazing Grace is another one of my favorite hymns.  It shows the saving and forgiveness aspect of grace.