A Moment of Grace

Every person's life has many moments in which unspeakable beauty falls before his sight. It may be catching the gentle pastels of the sunset or watching a duck serenly wade on a still pond. Through these moments we realize that there is art in this world, that there is ineffable beauty. These moments leave us speechless. Indeed, words to describe them fail us quickly. It catches the very breathe from our lungs. They speak to us of something deeper...

These are moments of grace. In these times we can clearly hear God speak to us; we can lucidly see His perfect beauty. While we can seek these moments, for they find us, they still do come.

For me, the moment beset me while I was in the Basilica of San Clemente. The basilica has a beautiful sanctuary that inspires awe. From the ornate apse to the elaborate frescoes, an aura of God's holiness pervades the building. Many have their moments of grace before the centerpiece, the frescoe above the apse. Yet I found it in a quiet, unassuming chapel to the side of the basilica. Before me was an illustration of Jesus on the Cross. Abreast Him were the two thieves. As I saw this, I decided to take out my travel size Gideon's Bible. I read from Luke about those two thieves.

As I read that story, I looked upon the frescoe. It was so amazing how the frescoe could capture the whole of the story in one image.

By reading that story and seeing that picture, God spoke to me. He told me that He had placed those two thieves beside Christ for a reason. Even though they were filthy thieves, God's grace saw that their spot of death was the same as Christ's. God placed them their so they could find salvation. One thieve did. He joined Jesus in the Kingdom that day. Through that God taught me that wherever He puts me, it is so that I can reach out to Jesus. As I go through this semester, I will need that. When I feel culture shock, which I am, and homesickness, which I am, Jesus is right there.