Fierce Grace for These Times

Does the old, churchy word “grace” have anything to offer us in these times of intense upheaval and social and political polarity? 

It’s a slippery word, grace. In the Christian sense, it means, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “the free, unmerited favor, mercy, and divine strengthening influence of God.” In a secular sense, it conjures up smoothness and a kind of politeness (i.e. “social graces”) that carries an upper class connotation and may be, ahem, slightly less than genuine.

If we offer others “grace,” are we letting them run all over us? If we treat our own shortcomings with acceptance, is that “cheap grace”? Does grace work against accountability? Or is there something here in this old-fashioned word that can actually help us move toward a culture of authenticity, honesty, more generative conflict, and kindness? Is it a hopeless oxymoron to speak of “fierce grace”?

Oh, and by the way, where do we source this grace, even if we do want to offer it?

In this six-week series meant to accompany you through the midterm elections, I’m inviting you into what is a very live exploration with me. I don’t have it all figured out, and that’s why I want to be in conversation with you! But I do have ideas and entry points.  I imagine we’ll talk about and even experiment with grace in a number of ways–grace for ourselves, grace in interpersonal matters, grace (and the lack thereof) in our systems and structures. We’ll also explore through a number of lenses, including Christianity (with no assumption that you should be Christian); twelve-step recovery practice; Prentis Hemphill’s call for us to let go of innocence; police and prison abolition; restorative and transformative justice….

And this will not just be an intellectual exercise. We’ll be trying on practices for cultivating more grace for ourselves and others. “Homework” between classes will involve practices and will be optional. For trust-building, continuity in the discussion, and commitment to the inner work, please sign up only if you will make your best effort to attend all six sessions.

Will you join me?

Six Thursdays from 6:30-8pm ET On Zoom

October 15-November 19

Suggested donation $60-180; no one turned away for inability to pay.

The Zoom link will be shared upon registration