Goulash to grace

According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, "grace" is defined, among other things, as "the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God." It seems so simple, huh? But how often do we really try to wrap our minds around that concept?

I just had an extremely thought-provoking conversation with a young man who used to work in my shop and recently got into some trouble. He was arrested, and is awaiting formal charges and possibly a court martial.

Nate has never really fit into the Marine Corps mold. He is far too genuine, for one, and is one of those people who are mostly misunderstood by the rest of us. He's "attitudinal" at best, and defiant at worst. Since the day he checked into my squadron, his peers and leaders alike have dismissed and underestimated him.

I must admit to being one of the dismissers.

The really sad part is that I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Nate. I like that he means everything he says. He's a genuine person, and I know that's rare. But mentoring Nate has always been more of a challenge than mentoring his peers, so we let him fall by the wayside.

So he got into things that weren't good for him, simply in order to feel accepted. And now he's paying the price.

I'm not making excuses for him, merely trying to understand some of the reasons. He made his own decisions. I know that. And I do believe in consequences.

But then there's grace. Mind-boggling, jaw-dropping, unfathomable grace. The unmerited favor of God.

How wonderful can it get?

As I sat in my (hugely uncomfortable) butterfly chair and listened to Nate tell me about his childhood and his experience in the Marine Corps and why he has done the things he has done and how badly he wants to turn his life around, I was acutely reminded of my own struggles. The things I've done won't merit prosecution, but it's the same journey. The need to be accepted, the idea that it's hopeless to fight.

But I've experienced grace. I've beaten myself up about things I've done, only to discover (again and again) that Jesus loves me after all. I've fallen into the same habits and behaviors, only to feel (again and again) the freely given, and (wholly) unmerited love of God. And it makes me want to be a better person.

Nate talked, and my heart broke for him. Not in the least because I know I've been less kind and merciful since the whole occurrence than I could have been. I know about the grace of God. How can I not demonstrate it in my own life?

I told Nate today that I've always appreciated his authenticity; that I've always liked him. He was moved... But he shouldn't have been. He should have already known.

Nate is struggling to live his life for God. He knows the truth, that he belongs to his Creator, and nothing else has a claim to him. He believes in grace. He's scared of failing. He's afraid of letting his family and his Lord down.

I hope in my heart that I was able to encourage him even a little. I'll be praying for him. He reminded me again how precious grace is, and in that, perhaps taught me a lesson more valuable than anything I could give him.

The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. How beautiful.