What is "Gracious Tension?"
I recently had the opportunity to share a Lent reflection for the New Leaf Network in Canada. While I’d been wrestling with the concept of “gracious tension” for a couple years, this was the first time I put it in writing. This was the birth of Gracious Tension. I believe it’s there, inside, waiting to be discovered.
Some thoughts I shared in the Lent reflection included:
Maybe grace is in the wrestling, and rumbling of our own internal struggles. That place, deep within, where we find ourselves and God in the same moment.
I was in a period of lament, and wonder. Surrender, and growth. A time of gracious tension. Even though I was going through a period of oppressive loneliness, when my spiritual director asked me to describe it with one word (no small feat!), one that came to mind was excitement. How could I possibly be excited about this experience? I felt like God had no answers for me, like no change would ever occur. But I trusted that God is “the God who works wonders.” So yes, I stay the course. I follow the Spirit, and make the changes in my life that need to take place. Living and loving in the gracious tension.
It means moving forward in love, but speaking out against spiritual abuse, even though I may experience backlash. It means both sacrifice and surrender, but also growth and wonder.
For the full reflection, click here. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share some of my writing.
When I finally decided to take the leap into Substack, the perfect name was already there, waiting for me.
Welcome to Gracious Tension, the place where I share my thoughts. I hope that it can help you as much as it’s helped me. Who knows, maybe we can walk in the space created by gracious tension together?