Grace. Amazing grace. Receiving grace.

What does “grace” mean, in this context? What does it mean to me?

The word has long intrigued me. There is a definite magic in the word, a warmth and a mystery. It’s almost as if the word might be a wormhole into another dimension.

I know how most churches define “grace,” and I agree, but I seem to view it more broadly and more secularly.

My interest was sparked by an incident that happened to me right before I came to Maine. I had reunited with a good friend from my high school in Ventura, Calif., while I was living in Memphis and he came to visit from Chicago. We took a day and drove to small neighboring towns in northeastern Arkansas, our early roots, pointing out our homes and our grade schools.

As we drove, he told me a story. He had been riding on a Greyhound bus, when he noticed a young man sitting in front of him.

The young man was wearing khaki pants and a light blue shirt. He had brown hair of moderate length. He was of average height and looks, but he somehow stood out. Everyone felt it. He had a presence surrounding him that was almost tangible.

When they got out of the bus, people just seemed to be pulled toward him and around him.

Random, yet apt

My friend pondered on the meaning of this, and decided to use an intuitive maneuver that had always worked for him. He went to a library, randomly pulled out a book and let the book fall open. He read, “And he walked in a state of grace.”

That was it, he realized! This young man seemed to be in a state of grace. My friend was satisfied his search for an explanation had ended.

My search for a working definition for grace was heightened by this story. It’s never far from my mind. Now is the time.

I check several dictionaries for “grace” and skim through all the definitions until I reach the one I’m seeking: “the love and favor of God toward human beings.” I like that.

I go to the computers in Borders Books and Music, and fill in “grace” as the keyword, and hit “search.” I get 1,000 hits; I think it only goes that high. Many of the books listed are fiction with “grace” in the title or the name of the author. Many are in religion.

The one that interests me most is “Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness, Making Miracles” by Marianne Williamson. “Grace” is a very big topic to her. I skim her whole book and take notes. M. Scott Peck is good on the subject, too, as well as Robert Schuller. I read from their wisdom.

Rising above the ordinary

I think I have come to a good working definition of “grace” for myself as a result of all this. I define grace as those situations or events that rise above the ordinary to make a lasting, joyful impression on us, perhaps even have a transforming quality.

This can happen anywhere, anytime, in everyday events that somehow stand out, such as getting together with friends and everything just clicks, everyone bringing out the best in the others. The other day I was mesmerized by a perfect double rainbow! I could probably write a term paper on how Michael Jordan reaches a state of grace at times when he is on the court, because it just all comes together and is awesome. We live on this absolutely beautiful planet, much more beautiful than it needs to be to serve its purpose, another gift of grace.

And grace includes a friend like Jim, who helped make my high school experience more meaningful, who challenges me with interesting concepts, who weaves into, out of and back into the tapestry of my life in a unique way.

If we wrote a gratitude journal that captures all the moments of grace that come our way each day, we might write until midnight. How fortunate we are to be in a state of existence where grace is all around us, all the time, if we can see it.

Dianne Russell Kidder is a writer, consultant and social worker, who is based in Lisbon. She is a regular contributor to this column. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].