Robert Redford died this past week. It broke my heart. He was my first screen crush. I suspect I’m not the only one. Over the years my attraction never waned. What it did was morph from a hormone-soaked infatuation into a mature respect for the man he became and the life he lived. The outpouring of love and appreciation for him in the media these past few days by folks high and low reminded me that I’m not the only one to hold this respect. He was rare among Hollywood giants.
As much as was written about Redford’s campaigns on environmental issues and for First Nations’ rights and founding the Sundance Film Festival (giving young filmmakers a venue for their works), his award-winning roles, and his A-list of co-stars, one Hollywood critique stood out. “Redford had a fluid physical grace and an inner radiance that sometimes makes it seem as if he's lit from within." How often do we hear such praise about people in the media spotlight? Or about anyone? And if we do, what do we think is meant by grace and inner radiance?
My friend Marty managed a restaurant in Park City, UT where Robert Redford was a regular customer (and a regular guy from her experience). One day, as he and his son were eating lunch an elderly woman came in and sat at an empty table. After she ordered, he got out of his chair, went over to where she was sitting and told her that he didn’t much like eating alone and that if she wasn’t expecting someone and wanted company, he’d like to have her join them. She did, and tears came into Marty’s eyes. The woman ate there often, always alone.
When we think of grace what usually comes to mind isn’t a celebrity (of unknown faith) quietly asking a lonely elderly woman to break bread with him and his son. Some Christians even think that we, alone, receive and can share God’s grace. At those times when a non-Christian refers to grace in a non-believer or a person whose religious belief is unknown, they think of secular grace—grace as being kind or having good qualities but not implying God’s grace.
However, God, the ground of all creation and the essence of love, doesn’t see it that way. God doesn’t withhold grace (God’s love in action) from some and share it with others. Throughout the centuries theologians assured us that God blesses everyone with grace. You may have heard this called common grace, the grace that God gives to all humanity, not just believers. It includes the general blessings of life, such as love, good health, prosperity, wisdom, and the ability to serve others.
So, grace is grace, whether it’s bestowed by a Saint Teresa or a Robert Redford. Over the next several weeks I encourage you to make it a point to look around and spot grace. I assure you you’ll find it in both expected and unexpected places.
-- Karen Kaigler-Walker
HTC UWFaith Spiritual Growth Coordinator
