Grace: To know and understand how God views the world as it is reported today. Humans living and dying, humans going about their business and ignoring suffering or joy. Humans experiencing great job and great sorrow; humans practicing violence and cruelty to one another, to themselves or to the world around them. I want to see what it is that God sees about grace and sin around me.
1st practice: Read through the headlines of the major sections of the paper, getting a sense of the occupations of the human community this day. Don’t spend time yet on any account – just notice the “big picture”. Pay attention to the hear and mind of Jesus as you see these things. What does God point out to you? What do you discover about the world today as you see these headlines?
Consider how much God has given the world. Consider how God has asked us to care for one another. Consider how many ways we find to ignore this desire of God. Possibly take up the Scriptures and read the short passage of John 3. 13-17.
After you have glanced through the headlines and pondered the brokenness of the human reality consider one of the stories and think how this could be about you. You too are part of the human condition. You too could be caught up in these behaviors. Why is your name not in the paper? Consider the sins you have committed that you have never been publicly exposed for.
Speak to Jesus and to God the Father about what they want you to know and discover. Speak to them about your feelings and thoughts.
Questions for Journaling
- What did you pay attention to?
- Why did this capture your attention?
- What are your feelings about this headline or the general experience of looking at all the headlines?
- What does any of this tell you about sin and grace in your life? What would you like to remember?