Journeying to Grace

In one of the heartfelt moments in the final scene of the Steven Spielberg movie E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, the character E.T. sweetly reminds the little girl Gertie to ‘be good.’ She nods and responds, ‘yes.’ The scene was so memorable, I used that same phrase often with my own family. Be good. This simple yet complete instruction is not just a suggestion for a child who has a lot of growing up ahead of her, it is guidance for all of us, and it is often the answer I’m looking for and the reminder I need to hear.

I heard those words when I found myself caught in a space between anger and wanting to do something. As I am most days, I was stopped at a red light behind another vehicle. Usually when I read the bumper stickers on the vehicles ahead of me, I often smile or sometimes laugh. But the two I saw on one bumper that day caused my heart to sink. I grew angry at the hate-filled words on the stickers and at the person who chose to display them. It’s not that I haven’t (unfortunately) heard those repulsive words and callous ideas before, but to encounter them right in front of me. I didn’t have a choice but to see them – which was probably the intention. Though the traffic light changed, and the bumper stickers were soon out of sight, their messages of hate and disdain remained. At least for a moment.

I shook my head and wondered what I could possibly do to combat these malicious words, and it didn’t take long to get the answer. Be good…be the goodness of God. ‘For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.’ (2 Peter 1:5-7) When we are confronted by hurtful words and actions, we find our peace in the goodness of God. Though our hearts ache at the lack of kindness and compassion we may experience, we are called to be the goodness of God, show the goodness of God, and offer the goodness of God.

This is our strength and our inspiration to help spread the grace of His love to those we encounter, even when challenges are right in front of us. When we respond ‘yes’ to being the goodness of God, especially when it is difficult, we respond in love. Because God is good, and because God is love. ‘…God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them.’ (1 John 4:16)