The Grace Period

I n every life, there is a period when "all is well" -- generally, for most people, in childhood. This "all is well" feeling is, for that period of time at least, their basic state, to which they quickly and easily return, despite the occasional "bumps" of life. It may last for a longer or shorter time period in a life, depending on the person. That time period may be called "The Grace Period", a time of innocence. Thus, it is said that infants and children exist in a state of grace.

   That grace period ends with the loss of innocence -- a blow, a situation from which the person does not spontaneously recover. The loss of grace is a call for maturation -- the assumption for deliberate responsibility for something previously taken for granted, the state of grace -- the responsibility for recovering the state of grace.

   How is this done?

    One answer has been forgiveness. But can forgiveness be genuine and complete if the effect of the blow is still intact?

    Thus it is that we must also reverse the effects of the blows of life. For those things about which we complain, even if only inwardly, we must either arrive at full, comfortable acceptance or create a change in the situation. Change ourselves or change the situation.

    The steps involved differ from situation to situation and must be self-known.

    When accomplished, we arrive at a higher state of grace than before, for not only do we enjoy the state of grace; we create and maintain it.

    There are crises in life that call for a decision: whether to acquiesce to the loss of grace or to regenerate the state of grace through whatever growth is necessary. The period of decision, when we move from innocent grace to responsible grace is called adolescence, a developmental state (or period) of awkwardness and prolonged difficulty. It is prolonged and difficult according to the severity of the crisis and to the degree that we lag in assuming responsibility.

    To maintain the state of grace is not only an act of maturity; it is the continuation of growth beyond the stages of childhood and adolescence.

    Out of the state of grace, we are dying by degrees. Recovering the state of grace, we are coming to life by degrees.

    To recover the state of grace is to choose life.

    To know which destiny you have chosen and to what degree, answer the following question to yourself:

Is it enough to live in the sense of wonder?

   If your answer is "Yes, but ...", go to the "Uncovering Your Heart's Desire" exercise!