One for the Record Books

Columnist Thomas Sowell said it best when he asked, "How long has it been since anyone has done anything that called for the word grace?" We've all seen plenty of victimhood and outrage. In public settings, arrogance and insults have are all too familiar. But what a wonderful thing it was last week to behold something as rare and truly refreshing as Grace!

Everyone knows the story: seasoned umpire Jim Joyce cost Tigers' pitcher Armando Galarraga an historic perfect game. On the last play of a hitless nine innings, Joyce called a runner safe on first when video would confirm he was out by a mile. Minutes later, the remorseful ump took off his cap and confessed that his mistake had cost a young man his place in the record books. He apologized to the pitcher. He apologized to the fans. Then Armando Galarraga did something amazing: he graciously accepted the apology of this man who had wronged him. A few days later, finding himself in another game with Joyce as ump, Galarraga made it a point to greet the official and treat him with great respect.

We all experienced a bit of grace on the part of Joyce and Galarraga. The public continued to debate whether the Commissioner should intervene and right the wrong. But the recriminations and public anger were instantly dissipated.

Compare that with what happened in South Africa only a few days after Sowell's column was published. In a hard fought World Cup battle between the US Soccer Team and the Brits, England's goalkeeper expertly fielded a hard driven kick headed straight for the net. Then strangely, the ball rebounded from his glove and gently rolled around his knees, sauntering into the net for a quirky US score!

Goalkeeper Robert Green toppled onto the turf in bitter humiliation. The US went on to retain the tie against a superior team. Fans of England were crushed and outraged! Commentators unleashed scorching analysis suggesting even high school players would never make such a pathetic mistake. Green remains a goat and the butt of jokes. Days later, we have still heard nothing from the unfortunate goalie or his team mates. The rancor hangs heavy in the air. Insults and second guesses continue to rise like smoke from a burned-out crater.

We sing that familiar old hymn about grace, never pondering the reasons why that asset, that divine virtue, is truly so astonishing- so remarkable. Yes, grace is certainly amazing because it must be offered by someone who has been wronged, and offered to someone undeserving. But grace is also breathtaking because of what it makes possible: it instantly removes hostility and restores relationships which seemed dead and buried only moments before.

Grace resurrects things we had thought were gone forever. That's why only the power of God can generate amazing grace.