Daily Word of Grace: October 7, 2020
One of the funniest and most famous episodes of the classic television comedy The Office begins with Michael Scott-regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin paper company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania- hitting fellow employee Meredith Palmer with his car. Meredith goes to the hospital for her fractured pelvis and as a precaution gets a rabies shot because she had been recently bitten by several animals. This inspires Michael to plan a charity 5K “Fun Run” in order to raise money to fight rabies and try to “make up” for hitting Meredith with his car. The title of this event is “Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure” (Try saying that five times fast). Due to a combination of “carbo loading” immediately before the race, and not hydrating before or during the race, afterwards Michael goes to the hospital for dehydration. Meredith wheels into Michael’s room, knowing everything he had done, and forgives him. It is tempting in our own lives to try to “make up” for our sins against God, perhaps with efforts as crazy as Michael’s 5K race, but it is futile, as the psalmist wrote, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” Thankfully, the psalmist continues, “But there is forgiveness with you” (Psalm 130:3-4). Our efforts to “make up” for our sins may even metaphorically land us in the hospital like Michael, but like Meredith, God wheels into our room and fully forgives us.
Love and Prayers,
Dave