Yesterday, I went to a networking luncheon with one of my
co-workers. It was in the Tower Club, 48 stories up in the heart of downtown –
breathtaking view of Dallas and surrounding areas. I wish I had snapped a
picture, but we were fashionably late and by the time we were seated, our
speaker was about to start.
I walked in not knowing what to expect, and walked out
feeling very blessed. Kat, the speaker
and founder of this all-women organization called Polish spoke about Buddhism
and the 8-fold path to enlightenment.
She talked about the 8 steps and how Buddha laid this all out for us to
follow but leaves it up to the individual to follow it and complete all the
steps. Sounds like a good plan to
me. If I follow the steps that are laid
out for me- I will achieve enlightenment.
It’s up to me – I control my destiny.
Then she spoke about Christianity – about grace. She
described grace as something that we are given but did not deserve. Believing
in grace is to have faith that no matter what we do, God’s plan for us will
prevail. Believing in grace means to give up control. What?! Who wants to give
up control of their own destiny and leave it up to somebody or something
else? Not this girl!
But then I thought about it some more. What have I done to deserve this life that I
am living? What have I done to deserve such wonderful people around me? What
have I done to deserve parents who have given me so much, to deserve a loving
husband, to deserve such beautiful, precious children? Probably no more than
anybody else who is suffering. So there
must be grace. If I believe in grace, I must also have faith and trust in God
and His plan for me – to let go of control, anxiety, fear, and envy. Because in
the end, things will work out. It has
for the past 36 years.
For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest
any man should boast. -Ephesians 2:5
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