An EG Moment

What exactly is an EG Moment? It is when God reveals HIS Extravagant Grace in a crystal clear way! Usually, I'm either moved to tears or drop to my knees or both. But, of course, I'm the emotional type. My hubby, on the other hand, may simply say, "Now, that's cool!"

This morning, God hit me with a wave of EG moments. My husband's teaching schedule affords me the opportunity to walk the girls to the bus, instead of him, and then spend 30 minutes at the track while he gets ready for work and prepares breakfast for the twins. Now, that in and of itself is extravagant grace in my book, because how many stay at home moms get 30 minutes alone, outside of the house, without having to pay for a sitter?

But it gets better. Not only do I get 30 minutes alone, but thanks to the generosity of my sis-in-law, I get to listen to music on my very own iPod shuffle...music that I've been able to download from iTunes to my computer...thanks to my also very generous father-in-law. For a family like ours, with minimal income, I have quite luxurious toys to play with every day. Yes, I do believe this is God's extravagant grace working through my family. No, God is not Santa Clause, giving us everything on our wish list just because we've been good. If that was the case, I've got to find out what I am doing wrong, because I would really like new living room furniture!

Although God doesn't give us everything we would like, He does know our hearts. I truly believe He blesses us with things/people/circumstances, especially when we recognize the gift is from Him and not from anything we deserve or have earned. In this case, God used the iPod and music to provide such an amazing source of inspiration for me. As I listened to the music from Facing the Giants soundtrack, remembering the scenes and hearing the truths proclaimed through the lyrics, I was keenly aware of how I've been facing my own giants over this past year. I was undone, with tears and sweat rolling down my cheeks, as I realized God's faithfulness and His extravagant grace.

But the crux of my EG moment this morning wasn't the time to myself, the iPod, or the music. It was that I was able to run. That, to me, captured God's extravagant grace beyond measure. It may not be a big deal to you, but for me this is a monumental feat on multiple levels. See, in junior high, I dislocated my left knee, which was the first in a series of painful knee injuries. By the time I was a junior in college, I had four dislocations, one surgery, and torn up ligaments in the "good" knee. The doctors said to give up athletics all together--dancing, skiing, swimming, soccer--and stick to walking. Between the influences of the doctor and sincere concern of my mother, I pretty much believed that I had a messed up body not capable of doing the things my heart desire to do, so I'd better just play it safe by not doing anything at all. I took their advice, and except for a few times of aerobics and an occasional ski trip, have stuck to walking short distances, close to home.

What I didn't realize until this summer was how much the advice of the doctors and my mom, in regards to my physical health, influenced the rest of my life. Slowly, over the years, I've believed the lie that I better just play it safe. I've let the fear of failing, or getting hurt, control me on and off the athletic field. Do you have any idea how crippling that can be?

I started walking the track in June simply to get some much overdue exercise. But there was a beating in my heart pressing me to run. Walking just wasn't satisfying enough. I wanted more from my body. The next time out at the track, I jogged a 100 yard stretch. The next time two. A couple of days later, I jogged a couple of 100s and one 200. The following week, I jogged an entire lap. The week after, not only did I jog a couple of 100s, 200s, and a lap, but I sprinted the last 25 yards. My family was watching and hollered, "We didn't know you could move that fast!" Neither did I for that matter. It was exhilarating, and addicting.

I probably only get out to the track twice a week on average. Each time, I cover about a mile and half, and try to jog and sprint more than walk. This morning, I jogged three laps consecutively. Never, in all my 34 years of life, did I ever dream I would be able to make my body move this way for 3/4 of mile. Never, did I believe I could do it without injury or without collapsing. Never. But my God poured out His extravagant grace on me this morning. He showed me that I can do what seems impossible when I put my trust in Him and face my giants of fear.

This whole experience isn't just about running; it is a metaphor for my spiritual walk. It is symbolic of my faith and learning to trust God completely. When I am on the track, I have to keep my eyes down at my feet, or even closed at times, because when I look ahead to the finish line, I can't make it. I'll collapse. I fight against it all the time, because I really want to know where I am going and how am I going to get there. But God just wants me to live in the very moment, trusting Him with the details ahead and focusing on enjoying the journey at hand.

Keeping my eyes down toward my feet is boring at first, only until I begin to feel the rhythm and settle into the pace. Then my energy is renewed and I practically feel like I'm not running at all. My spiritual walk is the same way. When I keep my eyes set on Christ, when I stay focused on His Word and truth, I am content and energized. But should I take my eyes off Jesus, searching for some sort of finish line, I nearly collapse and always lose my pace.

God has poured out His extravagant grace on me this day. He's met me in a way that I can see Him and taught me lessons through every day experience. He doesn't expect me to jump through hoops to learn about His grace; He just wants me to live life lavishing in it! I pray you will, too, and spend your days looking for EG moments in the ordinary journey of an extravagant grace-filled life!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your extravagant grace in my life. I know you have it in store for all of us. Lord, I pray you would open our eyes to see EG moments in our day and at the least declare, "Now, God, that is so cool!" In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Here's a clip from the movie, with all the reasons why it has inspired my faith and my running...

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 27:10 NLT

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