“One of the noblest words in our language is ‘grace,’
defined as ‘unearned blessing.’ We live by
grace far more than by anything else.” Elton Trueblood
Last Wednesday I nearly burned down our studio.
Our beloved Kindred Wind Studio- conceived in startlingly improbable vision, brought to reality by a devastating storm, built with a hundred blown-down trees, years of labor and more money than we had-
could so easily have been destroyed but for the chance timing of a friend.
Our studio - welcoming shelter for dance parties, retreats, workshops,
art receptions, potlucks, concerts, our wedding; home of my husband’s photographic workspace, equipment and a lifetime of images; rich with treasures of heart, profession, creativity, dreams, passion and community-
stands today.
By chance. Coincidence. Synchronicity. Grace.
Lazily lounging on my bed, on a conference call with my business sisters,
I nearly ignored the knock at the front door. I was busy, not expecting anyone.
My friend, who had come to retrieve her socks left at the last dance party,
saw the barn full of smoke, saw the log smoldering and flaming
on the hearth and knocked longer, louder until I ran to pull the burning log into the rain.
This log, an hour before, I had tried to put in the woodstove, found it too big and left out on the tile, not realizing a tiny spark had nestled into the dry wood.
Imagining what could so easily have been lost I cringe, shudder and
engrave by fingertip inside my forehead:
Be Careful.
Pay attention.
Notice little embers that can grow quickly to catastrophic flames.
Take care of this precious life.
Cracked open by gratitude, my heart sings through windows flung wide:
Thank you for people who appear as angels each day.
Thank you for the web of light connecting us.
Thank you for reminding me I am not alone.
Thank you for grace, rescuing me more times than I ever will know