Brief Moments of Grace

 "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God,

to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, 

that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a 

little reviving in our bondage."

(Ezra 9:8)

 

Summer welcomes me today with a cloudy cool morning and a subtle fresh breeze.  The day is probably teasing me with moderate temperatures before it will launch into more robust sunlight and heat.  The scorching temperatures have given an abundance of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash in my garden, while tormenting the kale, cilantro, spinach and herbs.  My refreshment is found swimming laps in the pool and teaching or rather reminding Gypsy Rose to stay in her lane while we swim together.  Days seem to run together, slip away too fast, as I often feel locked in a routine of sleep, work, cook, repeat. I know that I need to pause and reflect, because even in that daily ritual are God's brief moments of grace . . .

Ezra a Jewish priest and scribe, had grown up in a foreign land.  His people had been conquered and exiled by several empires--e.g. the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians.  Their defeat was due to the outcome of the people forsaking Yahweh, His commandments,  and His ways.  Disobedience resulted in the loss of their land and kingdom.  Yet, ironically a remnant of this very people is preserved and allowed back into their country, and given the  financial means and provisions to rebuild the former temple that had previously been ransacked and destroyed by these nations.  It brings up the memory of the Exodus, in which the Jewish people were supplied with silver, gold and clothing from the Egyptians before they made their mass exit.  They were objects of compassion and favor from those who actually held them in bondage.  So hundreds of years later, once again, an oppressed, defeated people is given carte blanche  to return to their own land and country.  Evidence of God's brief moments of grace. . .

I don't know why it is that I often overlook these grace moments.  I wonder, what is with me? Why can't I recognize these seconds or minutes of God's goodness?  Perhaps that is one reason why my goal of being more joyful and less reactive has been a struggle.  When Ezra and the returning remnant took that 4 month journey back to their land, they surely must have had time to ponder the wonder of their new found freedom. On that trip they faced the potential of enemy attacks and ambushes, yet Ezra recognized God's grace and hand over them as they traveled safely and without incident, (Ezra 8: 31).  It had to be another time of more moments of grace . . .

 

Last week in church, I was reminded that "faith is taking the first step when you don't see the whole staircase."  This Martin Luther King statement resonates with me.  I can't figure out or even imagine the staircase I'm on.  I need to only walk one step at a time, but in that activity of living each day, no matter how routine it is, I am surrounded by brief moments of grace.  I need eyes, ears and a heart to receive them.  God is forever faithful, even in these days of 2023, when the culture I live in seeks power, denial of history and facts, and boldly lies and deceives us.  God preserves a remnant, perhaps even me, to be that brief moment of grace for others to receive . . .