Amazing. Simply amazing. Can we even wrap our brains around what “amazing grace” is? Or should we start simply with “grace”? After all, we use grace in so many ways… some “grace us” with their presence; others “say grace” before a meal; and next week’s female skaters in Sochi will undoubtedly be judged on their “gracefulness.”
Grace has everything to do with unmerited favor, courteous goodwill, a simple elegance, and an attractive way of behaving. Grace has zero to do with arrogance, ego, boasting, or brashness.
What amazes me is when persons in their brightest, most publicized moments — with the microphones and cameras both rolling — embrace grace… such as in the following comments, after Super Bowl XLVIII…
When Broncos’ QB Peyton Manning was asked about the lopsided loss: “We played a great team. We needed to play really well in order to win, and we didn’t come anywhere close to that.”
Or when recent ranter, Richard Sherman, the Seahawks cornerback responded on Twitter: “Peyton is the Classiest person/player I have ever met! I could learn so much from him! Thank you for being a great Competitor and person.”
And more from Sherman on Manning on Monday: “When I was limping up to my press conference and trying to make it up the stairs, somebody taps me on the shoulder and extends their hand and asks if I’m all right. My eyes try to make it up to see who it is, and it’s Peyton … fully dressed in a suit and obviously very concerned about my well-being. You know, after a game like that, biggest stage ever — to ask how you’re doing and really be generally concerned about an opponent, that shows an incredibly different amount of humility and class.”
And from Russell Wilson the morning after: “God’s given me so much talent and my height doesn’t define my skill set. I believe that God has given me a right arm and for some reason even though I’m 5’11” to be able to make the throws and make great decisions on the field and all that. I think to be a great quarterback, you have to have a great leadership, great attention to detail, and a relentless competitive nature. And that’s what I try to bring to the table and I have a long way to go. I’m still learning and I’m still on a constant quest for knowledge.”
Then regarding the Broncos’ quarterback Manning, Wilson said he spoke to him after the game, telling him it was an honor to face-off in the game. Wilson said, “He’s one of the best quarterbacks — if not the best quarterback — to play the game. You know, it’s just truly an honor.”
Years ago I read a fantastic book entitled: What’s So Amazing About Grace? One of my conclusions was that grace is amazing because it’s unique; it’s rare; it’s not the path most travelled. Most people, most often — from the athlete to the president to the interviewer of the president — choose a lesser path. We often choose arrogance, ego, boasting, or brashness.
While each of us is capable of boastful moments, what attracts me in the above responses is the obvious grace. It’s attractive because it’s the less frequent choice. Boasting would be easier. And so the grace must stem from something deeper, something internal, from within someone who has a healthy opinion of self but yet not one who thinks too highly of self. The expression of grace is simply amazing.
Respectfully,
AR