What a phrase!
What first came to your mind when you read that?
A gorilla in a tutu? A big question mark?
This is the name of a book recently sent by a fellow guerrilla of grace. Author Ted Loder writes in his book Guerrillas of Grace that “guerrillas are engaged in the battle to reclaim some territory, or some part of life, for a higher purpose, a truer cause.” Guerrilla warfare is usually up against bigger better resourced powers. They believe they are on the winning side even when the odds seem to be against them. They are gutsy and confident in light of realities. Guerrillas don’t act alone. They believe in partnerships of struggle and shared victories.
So I have a new image in mind of my faith journey. Here’s the scene: we’re on our bellies doing the commando crawl ready to surprise the enemy. We are ready to take back territory, reclaim something in life, moving on because we believe in the Power we have access to. I’ve seen the evidence of guerrilla prayers for my marriage, for my family, for my welfare. I’ve received the words of pain and defeat that rally and call me along with others to intercede and ask for “Thy will be done.”
We are never called to do this journey of faith alone. There is The Commander who already has the victory. He has already walked through the pain of the deadliest battle. He knows the way and asks me to trust what seems improbable.
Jesus invites us to engage in reclaiming what is broken, misunderstood, seems wasted because He makes all things new.
Breathe. Take a look at what needs your touch. Listen closely to the heartbeat of our Lord and see what steps of trust you need to make as a guerrilla of grace.
Is there a friend whose view of themselves needs your truth?
Is there someone who believes they are out of options?
Is there a child to listen to or just hold securely?
Is there one who fights the realities of depression?
Is there a deep loneliness that suffocates?
Is there an arrogance that wounds and wearies others?
Is there gratitude that needs to be expressed?
We are not the source of Grace but we become God’s dispensers of it as He pours it through us to our hurting world. St Augustine wrote, “Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not.” (Guerrillas of Grace, Augsburg Fortress, p. 15)
As you consider the ways you stoop down to serve the sweetness of God, see yourself in that sweet Guerilla stance, ready to reclaim some space for the Kingdom of Grace.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18
Cindy Gaskins