Relentless Grace

I do Christian mediations with a terrific team of people who give unsparingly of themselves to help people in conflict sort things out in a way that is honoring to God. One of my fellow team members, Roger Duerksen, rolled out a phrase last week that has been rumbling around inside me ever since - "relentless grace." The idea is that God relentlessly extends His grace to us to draw us into relationship with Him as long as we have breath. This column by Susan Nielsen, an associate editor of The Oregonian, has the fingerprints of His relentless grace all over it.

Basically, Ms. Nielsen grew up in a Lutheran church in Washington, attended regularly and believed to the limits of her understanding. She grew up, though, went to college, got a job, got married - the usual - and found herself in Portland, one of the most unchurched cities in the country. She quickly found that it was easier not to go to church and gently, softly, floated away from her childhood faith, which is the American Way. God, however, does not appear to be done with Ms. Nielsen, as evidenced by her column below. Although not exactly a cri de coeur (a murmur de coeur perhaps?), God in His mercy appears to be extending her a relentless grace that makes her heart restless and her thoughts wonder. That's a good thing. He is a good God. Say a prayer for Ms. Nielsen that she responds this time. And look for God's relentless grace in your own life. He's not done with any of us yet.

www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/susan_nielsen/index.ssf/2011/04/faith_and_portland_on_easter_s.html


(Tip o' the hat to Matt Stein for this article!)