One of the principles of soul-growth I’ve come to cherish is how Grace meets our inner work.
Soul-growth is about the work of paying attention to what arises in my inner self, and learning to be a good companion to myself, learning to be gentle with my own humanity.It is hard work to make space for the discomfort of feeling whatever I feel. It is also hard work to be present to those micro moments between something that affects me and my reaction to it, that sliver of an opportunity to choose how I respond.
As we do this work, we get surprised at times. Some area of struggle suddenly gives way to ease. An habitual reaction unexpectedly takes a back seat to something gentler and kinder to self. We see the other in a new way, with more acceptance of their perspective. A moment of awareness opens up and we realize we are not alone in our soul-work.
This is the experience of Grace.
Regardless of whether you use the name God or Spirit or Divine or any number of other names to reference that force that is beyond us and greater than us, where that force interacts with us is what I like to call Grace. It’s where my effort produces an effect greater than what I could concoct on my own. It’s experiencing an inner light brighter than what I could produce alone. It is also most often a surprise.
One of my beloved mentors reminded us frequently that “Surprise is evidence of the presence of Spirit.” When the surprise is Grace, I am reminded that soul-growth is not totally up to me. In fact, I experience how Grace multiples my effort, so that my experience of soul-growth is exponentially greater than my own effort.
That is another defining characteristic of growth rather than “self improvement”—the result is greater than my own work. Yes, we do have to do the work of paying attention and being present. We have to do the work of choosing. But then, beyond that, something bigger than us creates openings, healings, and insights beyond what we could invent on our own.
This is why I am honoured to show up with and for people in spiritual direction. I get to be a witness to Grace meeting another’s work. Sometimes I even get the privilege of pointing it out to the one I’m with. “Did you notice …” and seeing the wonder in their eyes as they realize they’ve had a moment of being more present or more intentional or more compassionate.
Qualities of soul can not be built. They don’t come into being by force of will. Rather they are the natural fruit of our intention and presence being nourished and multiplied by that which is beyond us. Grace amazes and delights me.
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