Turning-Ep. 2 - Grace

Welcome to the second episode of the re-launch of my podcast, now called "Turning" (although still under an Everyday Buddhism subhead). In this episode I will be talking about the concept of "Grace" and how it signaled an obvious change in my spiritual lens and the beginning of my "Turning."

According to the late Rev. Dr. Albert Bloom, "Grace is one of the most significant concepts or insights to emerge in the history of religion."

Grace is how I understood the reason a bad fall on ice caused me to land on the other side of the gateless-gate I had built by grasping at fear. It wasn't self-effort that enabled me to finally let go. I tried before but could not let go. It was because of a web of nature's conditions, which were outside of my control, and possibly my lack of focus on what was under my feet that caused me to slip and fall. And that fall, and the subsequent injuries and medical events forced me to give up grasping at what wasn't and accept the consequences of what was.

Grace as taught across most religions traditions—including Buddhism—emphasize the unearned nature of grace, a profound change in your life or your perspective that is not the result of human effort. The change initiated by grace is typically presented as a catalyst for transformation. The fall I took and the medical consequences that followed caused me to face my biggest boogeyman, the worst possible scenario I had imagined in my delusionary, fear-based reality. And those circumstances were given to me by grace, resulting in a profound transformation.

I invite you to come along and explore with me as I take the first steps into my new transformed reality while looking back to see how I got here. I hope you join me on this road and explore the turning with me.