Grace

Denise Garbonelli

 

A college course in religion and human culture transformed by beliefs about grace.  I had an intellectual understanding of grace as a force for good in a christian life which is available through the sacraments.  A sort of go and sin no more model of grace. 
That college course swept me off my feet with descriptions of the myriad ways God works in the world.  I heard, also, about the good news in the bible, which was news to me despite years of a good, Catholic education.  My imagination was sparked by Paul Tillich's notions of the courage to be in spite of and the ground of being beyond theism.
So my understanding of grace is bound up with ideas of courage and wonder at the ways God is working in the world.  Grace helps me hold my plans and prayers lightly.