…for she loved much.
– Luke 7:47
It arrived at the perfect time.
One of those days riddled with problems. Self doubt knocking on the door of the heart, asking if the stress and sacrifices are worth the effort. You’ve had those days.
Her unexpected email reminded me of a dramatic encounter Jesus has with a woman in the Bible—a story of what can happen when people receive an act of grace and allow that gift to heal and favorably reorient their lives. Her email had a similar tone.
Fourteen years of silence. And then…
“UrbanPromise had a profound impact on my life,” she began. “And for sometime I’ve wanted to reconnect. While I regret not reaching out sooner, I refuse to let anymore time pass without acknowledging the roots that helped shape me into the woman I am today. “
Letters like these are lavish offerings to those who invest in young people. This work is far more than a job. More than a resume builder. To be thanked or acknowledged isn’t the reason we stay committed, but it’s certainly a dividend in the portfolio of service.
Hearing from a former UrbanPromise student—who has evolved beyond an adolescent self-orientation and taken time to reflect more deeply on the sacrifice and contribution of mentors, teachers and counselors—is the kind of personal growth any developmental psychologist or pastor longs to witness.
But her next line reached another level.
“I would love to explore a way to give back to UrbanPromise,” continued the young woman. “Whether through volunteering or mentorship. But my real hope is to establish a scholarship for the valedictorian of the high school. God has been incredibly kind to me and I remain committed to paying forward the investment UrbanPromise made in me all those years ago.”
I believe deep gratitude leads to deep generosity.
This also seems to be a pattern in scripture. When we meet an unnamed woman in Luke’s gospel (7:47) she is the ultimate outsider. A woman who has fallen from grace with the religious establishment. Her history is replete with failure. Yet Jesus affirms her dignity by welcoming her into his inner circle. Forgives her. Offers a fresh start. And from this place of warm acceptance and gratitude she offers extravagant generosity to Jesus—tears, hospitality, expensive perfume, and welcome. She “loves much” because she knows she’s received a gift of radical grace.
Frederick Buechner reminds me again, “The grace of God means something like this: ‘Here is your life. You might have never been, but you are, because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. For you I created the universe. I love you.” It’s all grace.
I get to meet a lot of different people in my role. Truly a gift. Different walks of life. Rich. Poor. Blue collar. White collar. Different ethnicities. Different political stripes. Regardless of their social positions and backgrounds, I’ve noticed a pattern: those who acknowledge the many expressions of grace they’ve received—grace that shows up in the form of a listening friend, a job connection, an unexpected break in business, a loving parental figure, a caring teacher, good health, a scholarship —tend to live out their lives with a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude which opens the heart to “loving much.”
Bruce Main
President & Founder
PS. The young woman’s name is Shanice. She graduated from our high school in 2011 and went on to get her BA from PACE University in Psychology and her MA in Counseling. She now serves as the Director of College Success at Cooperman Scholars.