Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Embrace Your Grace and Get Right with YOU
Passionate Theme of the Day: Grace & Grit & Goodness
“Who said anything about church? You can go to temple, go to a mosque, heck, Grace – go sit in a dang tree if that’ll get you closer to God.”Grace and Earl in Bring It On Earl
“Granted, he chews tobacco and likes disco, but you’ve entered into the divine, Grace.”
Rhetta in Bring It On Earl
“I’m just Fed Ex trying to deliver a message.” ~ Earl the angel on TNT’s Saving Grace
Where to begin this random tangent? Last night (I actually happened to be home and the TV was on, which is rare with my new job as I’m usually attending some networking event) and caught the season two premiere of TNT’s Saving Grace.
I’ve never seen this show before. So to stumble upon episode one of season two and be completely enthralled within 10 minutes is HUGE. I’m still dissecting what it is about this show that’s got its hooks in me. Let me begin by saying that Grace is a total train wreck! She’s an alcoholic, promiscuous, foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, ticking time bomb. She’s absolutely tragically flawed…yet utterly human and breathtakingly stunning.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. It’s like Holly Hunter’s Grace is a real person and I’m friends with her. Plus the rest of the cast had such synergy…it was like they’re real friends, lovers, family. Make believe is what good TV is all about right? Well people, I bought it hook line and sinker. I’m in. After a little clicking around I found the pilot. I gotta admit though, if I’d watched the pilot first, I’m not sure I’d have been as into it.
Last night’s episode however, was a piece of work. Drama. Laughter. Sexual tension. An angel that chews tobacco. Turns out that Grace was sexually abused by a priest at her church when she was a little girl. Last night found Grace kidnapping him and holding trial in her living room. Yes, she contemplated killing him. But she didn’t. Her intentions are good. She’s become a homicide cop to try and stop the bad guys. That’s her calling. Her mission.
I like Saving Grace for many reasons on many levels. The main one being that Grace is REAL. OK, I get she’s a character, but she is who she is and OWNS it. Authenticity at it’s finest. She doesn’t make excuses. She doesn’t answer to anyone (well maybe God…she’s debating it). Of course I also love the spirituality vs. religion debate.
After watching the pilot, I understand that Earl showed up after Grace hit a man while she was driving drunk. She was covered in the man’s blood and said, “Please God help me”, when Earl, the grungy, tobacco chewing, cowboy boot wearing angel appeared.
Grace didn’t believe in God (understandably she’d have issues from her childhood trauma…BTW, her brother is a priest) so when Earl snatched her up and whisked her to the Grand Canyon (cuz that’s where angels take people at the crossroads dontcha know?) he asked her if she was willing to get it together and stop making such fatal decisions.
Grace shows us that we can step into the shadows of our soul and use them for a force of good. We can wrap those dark corners around us like a cape anytime we need to kick some ass. I also dig that Earl doesn’t look like what we’ve been told (in most religions anyway) angels look like. He doesn’t talk like angels “should” talk. He doesn’t expect her to DO anything for God’s love. She can still be fatally flawed and fragile, even when she’s wearing her emotional amour and slinging her gun (or swinging her “guns” - Holly’s ripped ya’ll) Earl reminds her that God is omnipresent and always there.
He reminds her that sometime life sucks. Sometimes it gets low down and dirty. It’s not all hearts and flowers and rainbows and puppies. Bad shit happens to good people. It’s all about what we choose to become after we face a demon head on.
How are you embracing your Grace? How have you taken your pain and used it to fuel your fire? Are you still sitting in the puddle of mud? Are you in denial? What might you need to face your demon(s) head on? Do you need a silver bullet? A wooden stake? A samurai sword? Some ninja-ass moves? A counselor? A coach? A recovery program? A quiet space to write it out. A canvas to unleash some wicked-ass paint at? A guitar and a blank piece of paper? Work it out yo!
I encourage you to embrace your Grace and take a baby step into the light. Do what you gotta do to get right with you. If you get right with God (the Universe, Creator whatever you call the HP) along the way, more power to you. Have more FUN. Laugh your ass off. Dance naked in your kitchen (Grace does). Work your mojo. Be good to you. It’s your trip man. How do you wanna experience it? Do more of what feels good and less of what feels bad. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. But it does require action. Forward motion. One foot in front of the other…
Like Earl says, “I’m just Fed Ex trying to deliver a message.” Spread the word.
Peace, passion & prosperity,
KK