Grace - the influence of God operating in humans

When I was a senior in high school, I was invited to the 18^th birthday party of a classmate.  She was a studious girl.  She was, by most standards, rather plain looking.  One needn't spend much time with her, however, to see her inner beauty.  She never had an unkind thing to say about anyone.  She was sweet and giving, always willing to help others.  She approached everything she did with a joyous attitude whether it was schoolwork, playing in the school band or prayers at weekly Mass.

I don't remember much about the party, it seems it was filled with ordinary moments my adolescent mind couldn't possibly bother to remember.  What I do remember is towards the end of the evening, as I headed for my car parked across the street, I looked back at her standing on the lawn in front of her family's house, amidst the clutter of presents and family and a few remaining friends, with a look of a pure joy on her face.  I was struck by the beauty of it, by her beauty, in that moment.  She looked over as I stood there in the middle of the street looking back at her.  She waved, then, seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, before coming to a decision.  She headed my way.

"I'm so glad you came and could share this evening with me," she said.  "I know you've been struggling with something, and I've been praying for you."  There was an initial moment of fear; had she discovered my secret?  To say I was "struggling with something" was an understatement.  I'd spent the first half of our senior year involved with a fellow classmate, in a tumultuous, dysfunctional relationship that came to an abrupt end when the girl was expelled.  I had spent the rest of senior year in near constant fear of the relationship being exposed, resulting in my own expulsion.  My moment of fear passed, however, when I looked in her eyes.  There was no judgment there, only compassion.  The weight of my struggle was evident to her because she'd chosen to pay attention.  I don't think I realized how alone I felt until that moment.  I don't think I knew how desperately I needed someone to "see" me, see my struggle during that difficult time.  Having someone recognize I was struggling set me free.  That was the gift she gave me.

Just at that moment, someone in her family began shooting off fireworks overhead.  Brilliant, streaming colors lit up the night's sky.  And there was that look on her face again, pure joy.

"I'm so glad you're here to share this with me."  I'm glad I was there too.

There's a long history of characters in literature being named for their defining traits.  There are even modern day examples, like Jim Carey's character in The Truman Show, who is a true man, in spite of the false world that has been constructed around him.

My friend's name was Grace.

Faith - belief that is not based in proof

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happened to them all.