Grace and Necessity - Part Three

In this third part of Rowan Williams’, Grace and Necessity, the theme seems to be finding good amidst the bad. Now, that is a very vague summary of a jam-packed part of the novel but, you as the reader can take it in many different directions. Williams discussed Flannery O’Connor’s stories as a way to depict the message of finding the best in the worst places and boy did she really take it home and go to the very worst.

Although I have never read O’Connor’s story myself, the excerpts that Williams places in his discussion and our class discussion, lead me to believe that her writing style is very grim and dark. Instead of simply staying on the surface with that, Williams takes the readers down below and digs into what we can find in the darkest of places. As you continue with her work, it doesn’t seem as dark and you can see the essence of it, “a strangeness of an unconditional love” (Williams, 131).

We have an inherent ability to create in every area of our life; and that doesn’t mean that we have to pick up a pen or paint brush or power tool. We also don’t have to create in a Christian setting to be considered a Christian designer or artist, you can find the goodness in anything you create and see how God shows up in those works in a diverse way.

The concept of finding the good or grace through the bad really stuck with me. As I begun to ponder it, I couldn’t really think of a time when I found absolute goodness in a negative thing. I tend to have a negative outlook, trying to figure out what is going to happen and preparing myself for the worst because then when the best comes a long, I feel I experience it more fully. So, I really struggled with this concept. I think it is important to see how God is present in the darkest of times but it is difficult to do so in the midst of the struggle.

In class, we started talking about a person’s narrative and how reducing a person’s story so you, yourself, can understand it is drawing away the character and realness of their experience. This is also something that really stuck with me from this part of the book because my mission statement is…

I want to hear your story; your personal or business’ story. I believe everyone is unique, an individual unlike any other. What I deeply desire is to put those authentic, sensational, breathtaking characteristics and traits on display. I want to provide people with tools and encourage them in their rarities, driving them to and supporting them in all of their future endeavors. By paying great attention to detail and describing each person in their own simplistic, elegant way, my goal is to help you put your best self out in the world and feel as though your story has something extraordinary to offer to every community. Through different mediums such as personal branding, resume and cover letter crafting, blog posting, and all social media platforms, I am able to pursue this passion of mine and help others with their own.

I love to hear people’s stories, so much that I often forget what my own is and have a difficult time talking about it. With that being said, I want to really think about what it means to experience a person’s story for what it is to them and not try to put it through my own filter to experience it.

There is so much in this chapter that I found really interesting but my biggest take aways are being aware to what is positive during the negative times, finding God and grace in those and also to let myself understand a person’s story or point of view through their own lens. We should not be prohibited to share our story based on how others will receive it due to their own experiences. We can see how Christ is present in somebody’s story instead of writing them off from the face value of it. And lastly, we can rest in knowing God is working in and through us but in a different way in everyone.

References

Williams, Rowan. Grace and Necessity: Reflections on Art and Love. Continuum, 2005.