I wrote the first version of this TIB back in 2009, on the 10th May. I felt it needed an update today.

I remember Louie Giglio preaching years ago and saying that the only adjective fitting to be used with the word Grace (as in God’s Grace), is “amazing”. Naturally everyone will agree with him in this. The Gospel message is supposed to be one of grace, isn't it?

This is not going to be a long TIB. As I write this, I’m annoyed, angry I guess. Back in '09 I bought a “best of” CD – Creed – one of the bands from my younger years. Sort of a nostalgia trip for me then, and still is when I listen to them today, but they are really great.

They write “I feel angry, I feel helpless” and I relate to that now. Even another, more favourite artist of mine, one I consider a modern prophet, Leonard Cohen, wrote, "I'm angry and tired all the time". After 2020 and what is still happening locally, and globally, I feel Mr Cohen!

We are told that God poured His Amazing Grace out to form the church and it so seems to me that for the most, it is a hoarded commodity.

No, I’m not angry. I am deeply saddened. And disappointed.

What do I mean? Well, let me use myself as a relatively mundane example from 2009: I was tempted to be rude. A contractor was late for a meeting – by 15mins. I called his office to ask his whereabouts and was told he was on his way. I became annoyed and as an Occupational Therapist friend of mine described to me, became over-stimulated and in that moment, confused. This caused my annoyance. I so wanted to give him a tongue-lashing when he arrived, but this issue had been eating at me for weeks, so I didn’t!

This year, so far, has been trying, to say the least. Well, actually, for me it has been so since before Christmas. On personal and professional levels. I'm trying to hang in there, holding on to the hope and understanding that if I keep at it, #lovewins . So little grace around these days.

I try to be gracious! Even with myself.

Silly examples, I know – my apologies. This is not about rudeness or personal despair alone, there are more weighty matters. But do I have to spend another page or two in spelling this out?

Does it ever run out? No! It fuels itself. It’s apparently amazing. Please can’t we just let it be more present?

06 January 2021