This is what is written on my wrist today.  No, I'm not starting up another Lenten Journey, though considering the circumstances, maybe I SHOULD!  I sure learned a lot during that 40-days, and I could certainly stand to learn some more!  I wrote "love!" and "grace!" on my wrist because it's something I need to remember...on a consistent basis.  As a follower of Jesus, these two traits should be blindingly apparent in my every day life.  People who don't know me should see things in what I do and say and be all, geez...why is she so full of love and grace?  Sadly, though, that usually isn't the case.  And God so lovingly and oh so humorously pointed that out to me yesterday.

I have been finishing up the last few chapters of Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution: Living As An Ordinary Radical (a review of the book will be coming at you in the next few days, don't worry) and it has certainly got my gears turning.  Without going into too much detail (I'll do that in the review), the overall thing I have been getting from Shane's book is that we have sat back for too long simply praying and throwing money at things without really getting our hands dirty and doing something.  Sure, people appreciate the money that goes to these causes...the money definitely helps.  But what people need the most is to be loved on...to work side by side with someone who shows a genuine love and compassion for them, to receive a smile or a hug for no reason, to simply be shown love and grace.  More people will be brought into the Family of God through love and grace than violence or threats.

It's funny because I was mulling over these things while driving to lunch yesterday.  Thinking to myself, I need to make this conscious effort to show love and grace to everyone.  To go out of my way to show the light of Jesus in everything I do.  Then...a car pulled out in front of me, going way to slow.  It even stopped (!) as it had to wait for another car to leave a driveway that he/she wanted to go into.  My thoughts instantly went to: "What!?!?!  How dare you pull out in front of me and then stop...I have places to go, things to do here, you idiot!"  So much for love and grace.  What is it about getting behind the wheel of a car that can instantly turn us into savages, monsters...we develop this utter hatred for every other person in a car around us?  I can't explain it, it just happens.  Anyway, once the car got into the driveway and I was traveling down the road, I kind of chuckled at myself...realizing how ridiculous the situation was:  There I was thinking of how I need to be kind and gracious to everyone I come into contact with, then instantly going the complete opposite direction...wishing all kinds of vial things upon this car who dared to get in my way.  Oops. 

Oops indeed.  Within a few minutes of the the incident I was being pulled over for speeding.  Yep, we serve a funny, funny God.  I was just cruising along this ghetto road (if you know what area I work in, you understand), doing all this thinking, when out of nowhere a police officers steps off the curb and waves me to pull over.  He shows me his radar gun, stating that I was going 42 in a 30.  Uh huh.  Figures.  God knows how to get our attention...how to put us in check.  I had no defense, I didn't even try...just handed over my license and insurance and sat there going "ha ha, God, You're hilarious!" as the officer handed me my ticket.  See, I had never been down that road before, wasn't even sure if it was going to take me where I needed to go.  Because of the incident just a few minutes before, I had been so riled up that I missed my usual turn and ended up on THIS street.  The one where the cop was monitoring for speeders...like me.  Seriously...I'm telling you...the Man is a jokester!

So, this morning when I work up to a shiny, new day...I made the decision that I would not let other drivers get to me.  And just in case I needed a reminder, I wrote the words "love!" and "grace!" on my arm.  I originally considered writing "speeding ticket!" on my arm, but I opted for the words with the pleasant connotations to hopefully elicit a pleasant outcome.  We'll see how that goes.

Join me in a day of Love! Grace!  And let's turn it into a lifetime!