The gift of grace allows us to reflect on life’s realities, knowing that we’re not alone.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said,
‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
‘Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?’…
Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” 
Psalm 77:5-7, 10-11 English Standard Version

As much as I enjoy the Paint Mines for its oddly shaped rocks, I also enjoy it for its never-ending prairie. Those of you who know me, know that I love the ocean. This is an ocean of another kind which seems to stretch as far as the horizon.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park, Calhan, Colorado
Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Instead of hearing the crashing waves, you listen to the howl of coyote.  Instead of seeing a whale spouting, you notice a bounding deer. Instead of watching the graceful flight of pelicans, you contemplate the flight of a Great Horned owl as it silently passes by, and so I could sit on this bench for hours.

Yet I usually end up sitting for only minutes. The openness creates an uneasiness inside of me. It is hard to sit in the expanse of the prairie and not reflect on the reality of life.

The gift of grace is the ability to reflect on our lives and see the hand of God, not the failures of our human frailty. Satan loves nothing more than to drag us into the endless prairie of failure. Grace reminds us that we don’t sit alone on the bench of life. The one who has taken on our human flesh and who knows our frailty sits with us…and bless us.

Enjoy the view!