Living in a State of Grace

Long have hearts awaited the time when suffering would end and heart and mind would find ease and a sense of peace within the ordinary events and circumstances of a life. This sense of peace has been elusive, however, for in times past, even if it were possible to create peace within oneself to whatever degree, the external world was not at peace, and so the inner and the outer worlds could not mesh nor come together. This circumstance produced its own sense of sadness and regret.

The inner sense of peace permeates one who lives in a state of grace, as does the feeling of abundant love which flows in and through the deeper levels of one’s being like a river that has no beginning nor end. This is a river whose Source is constantly replenishing the life-giving waters, and so as it flows from the Source, it brings perpetual blessings to all parts of one’s being.

Herein lies a mysterious fact — that the river and the self are not two separate things, but one. For grace allows for the joining of the two so that one’s inner sense of self IS the river, and the river is the self. As a consequence, one experiences the perpetual flow of Divine life moving through all things, and the sense of flow, rather than being a peripheral aspect of reality, becomes the central aspect, merging with the sense of self.

The inner sense of peace permeates one who lives in a state of grace, as does the feeling of abundant love which flows in and through the deeper levels of one’s being like a river that has no beginning nor end.

The feeling of abundant love is carried on this flow to heart, mind, and body, for, in truth, there is no separation between any part of one’s being and any other. The cells of the body as well as the mind and heart can feel love; the fingers of the hand and the crook of the arm can sense love’s presence. All that is, vibrates with the sense of infinite and everpresent love which casts its rays over all that is outside of the self as well. As a result, those around one and the physical environment itself become infused with an atmosphere of love.

The consciousness of grace arises in the absence of separation from the Source of all blessings, and gives to life a confidence and security that penetrates whatever remains of the darker places of fear and doubt. This security is not an idea, but a feeling of safety and protection — a sense of being held, seen, known, nurtured, and cared for in all the ways that are possible to be cared for. The sense of security and safety allow the psyche to exist in a state of continual peace, free of worries concerning what harm might befall it, free of having to prepare for contingencies.

Even if life brings to one’s doorstep events that were unanticipated or that one would not have wished for, even then, the state of grace remains, surrounding each new circumstance with the knowledge of love’s presence. This gives to the heart more than a feeling of being able to get through something. It conveys to the heart the certainty that all is well all of the time, no matter what eventualities one must encounter.

The life of the soul permeates the life of the heart and mind in a grace-filled life, and both heart and mind are infused with the wisdom of the soul and with the soul’s sense of the perfection of Divine life unfolding within the human sphere. Seeing only perfection everywhere, even when external circumstances are different from what one would have wished, allows for an abundant sense of freedom., for there is no longer anything to run from and no longer anything to protect against. Instead, there is the greater capacity to open one’s heart and one’s arms to all of life, all of the time, with the certainty that the only One who will be met or encounter by doing so… is God.