It seems everywhere I turn lately “grace” has shown up in front of me in one form or another. But, until recently I sort of gazed at it in wonder like a kid at his first Brussels sprout.

“Grace” has been an elusive concept for me and the more I struggled with it and the more I pondered it, the more it would show up in its various forms. It was like the Universe was playing a joke on me by constantly sticking the concept in the middle of my path, waiting and giggling every time I stumbled over it.

The question started out small, almost not even on my radar and the more I tried to dance around it or even dismiss it, the bigger it got. Then I had an “Ah ha” moment and the explanation was right in front of me the entire time. In fact I wear it etched on a bracelet I wear on my wrist every day.

 

“She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs with no fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25

Opening to grace is to surrender. To let go. To give up control. To trust. 

It’s not about simply diving blindly into something you know nothing about. And it’s certainly not about throwing your hands up and hoping the for the best. To move with grace you have to have a solid foundation, just as a river moves freely it does so confined by the banks. Without rules and stability you just have chaos.

 

Sutra II.45 “Through whole-hearted dedication, we become intoxicated with the Divine.” ~ Nischala Joy Devi

Surrendering to grace is the pinnacle of the first two limbs of yoga in Patanjali’s sutras, the yamas (ethics) and niyamas (personal practices). As Charlotte Bell says in “Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life”, adherence to non-harming, truth, non-stealing, conservation of energy, generosity, cleanliness, contentment, discipline and self-inquiry and study of the texts “ [yamas and niyamas] provide the lifejacket that allow us to swim in the flow of the river without being swept under”. Without rules and stability you just get chaos.

 So really, what is opening to grace? It’s knowing yourself well enough to dive into life heart first. It’s knowing that you have set the foundation to trust with all your might. That even in times of total groundlessness and insecurity you trust that life will unfold exactly the way it is supposed to.

Kimberly is a loving mom and wife who dissects human tissue by day and moonlights as a yoga instructor by night. She loves getting to know people, especially what makes them tick and is trying not to take life so seriously. Her blog here and you can find her on facebook