Spider Grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

It is the time of year when spiders are crawling all around the house at night and they get stuck in your sinks and tubs because of the slippery surface. I have no idea how they get in but they do. I’m sure it gives you the creeps to think about them all over the place while you are asleep – ew! I like to think they can feel you breathing so they stay away from your bed but who knows?

Anyway a few days ago one was stuck in my shower. I dropped down low to see if I could see if it was a male or not – I may save a male since they have a tough life and often get eaten by the female. I could see the pedipalps so it was a male. I decided to save it – but how? I had no glasses around…hmm…finally I found a sock. I dangled it down next to the spider and the spider froze for a second. Then it started climbing up the sock and climbed really fast. I had to tip over the sock so it wouldn’t get to my hand. I opened the window and shook the sock and the spider fell outside onto the grass – saved!

I thought about how to this spider I could have been a god. It was helpless in its situation and the shower water was coming but a greater power came and saved it. But just like us humans can be, once grace (sock) comes down and stares you in the face – do you jump on or stay stuck where you are? Off to the unknown or stay in your known “stuckness.” Once you decide to jump on you are forgiven and then you are all in. It’s the greatest thing in the world and you can’t get enough. Once you’re free, God unleashes you on the world to throw his love around. But where are you? Still trying to figure out this God thing? Not knowing how your forgiveness will be used for the kingdom?

I don’t know all the answers either and have at least as many questions. Thankfully I don’t feel alone in the journey – that’s the benefit of a church family. So come along and we’ll try to figure it out together.

Erik can be reached via email.