Abandoned to Grace

"There are few people who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves to his Hands, and let themselves be formed by His grace." --St. Ignatius

Confession Time: I am a What Not To Wear junkie. That's right, I watch the TLC program What Not To Wear. Why? I think it has something to do with the above quote from St. Ignatius.

On the show, people have to give themselves over to Clinton Kelly and Stacy London and the "rules" for their new wardrobe. The old clothes are questioned, laughed at, and eventually tossed out and forgotten. The "rules" are so often met with resistance, which provides tension, which leads to growth, which leads to tears, which makes good television. In the end, though, almost everyone on the show can't believe how good they are able to make themselves look, no matter what their body style, height, weight or whatever.

But, the whole show starts with a confrontation where Clinton and Stacy ask the person to give themselves over to the two of them "heart and soul" in order to get this new wardrobe. The contestant has to give these two fashionistas free reign to do what THEY think is best for the contestant and, in so doing, the contestants can hardly recognize themselves.

So many of us have been changed by God's grace. The freedom that comes from knowing that our sins are forgiven and we are free is revolutionary to say the least. Yet, God wants to do so much more for us through the power of His grace and we are hesitant to give ourselves over to Him "heart and soul" because we don't want to be a pastor, nun, or work for the Church. Obviously, that's what God would make us if we turned ourselves over to Him.

But what if you could become more of yourself? What if He could show you how to hide your flaws, like the right clothes hide imperfections in What Not To Wear? I think most of us would love to be more of ourselves and God's grace is a path to that end.

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district. --Mt. 9:18-19, 23-26

They laughed at Him. He saw the world in a new, life-filled, forgiving way and they laughed at Him. To them, He didn't even know the simple facts of life: people die. To them, He didn't know what He was talking about; He couldn't even tell when someone was dead.

Jesus' response: do what He needs to do. Put the crowd outside, go inside, do what needs to be done. Popularity does not make it wrong; applause does not make it right.

This is one of my major fears: being laughed at. Sure, those who know me best know that I try to be funny and make people laugh. Truly, I am trying to get people to laugh with me. It's a slight of hand; look here and laugh, but don't laugh at that over there because that will hurt me. But to be laughed at is something that stops me in my tracks. I'll not do something rather than do something wrong because I don't want people to think less of me.

Jesus message to me: do what needs to be done. What I do will reflect my character, who I REALLY am. If what I am doing is right, who cares what people think.