“Grace” lives at Plateau Outreach Ministries. She greets us at the door. She is present for our prayer before the day begins. She sits with us when we meet with clients and she roams the food bank aisles on Wednesday mornings. Grace is always hanging out at POM, and we are incredibly grateful for her.
As you may have guessed, Grace isn’t a person, she’s a gift from God, to all of us.
Grace is gentle but not soft. She holds us accountable; she does not extend us a ‘free pass’. Rather, she points out the areas where we can improve, without judgement, and loves us in spite of our failures. We need her as much as anyone who comes to POM seeking help. We are all in this life together and, here at POM, we delight in the opportunity to share Grace with our neighbors who need us.
Grace changes us. She does not excuse us. She has shown us how to help our neighbors help themselves. She extends a hand-up, not a hand-out, and POM does the same. Grace walks alongside us, guiding us, loving us and cheering us on, in turn, we walk alongside our clients, just as she taught us to. Whatever circumstances brought them to us, Grace knows there are solutions, there is always a way. Sometimes it takes a change in life choices, sometimes, a change in the influences that surround us. With Grace by our side, we sit down with our clients, without judgment, and work toward finding solutions, empowering people to be transformed.
Grace features prominently in “Russel’s” story. Russel is homeless. He knows there are available beds in shelters in Seattle, but his choice is to stay in Enumclaw, close to the only home he has ever known. Russel visits us regularly for showers and laundry, but has never sought to change his circumstances through our case management. Regardless, we show him grace by helping him where we can with kindness, praying that Grace will plant a seed that will grow into a desire for a more secure life. Grace works on her own timeframe.
Grace also shows up in “Tim’s” story. Tim is battling addiction. He has burned bridges with most of his family and friends and resorted to sleeping in doorways to try and stay dry during the rainy fall months. He occasionally reaches out to us for help, but so far, has been unwilling to change his habits. So, Grace continues to sit with us each time we meet with him, gently encouraging him to recognize her and make the commitment to change.
Tim and Russel are still out there, struggling with the challenges that life threw at them. But Grace is patient. She teaches us to put aside judgment and greet them with mercy each time, knowing that she is powerful, and someday that seed may take root and they’ll realize that Grace lives inside of them too. We are grateful for a community that embraces Grace, trusts POM to give Grace to others, and has faith that she’ll always be there, for all of us. May the blessings of God’s Christmas gift of Grace bring you warmth, security, love and joy.