Hope calls, “Wake up O sleeper,
If you have the will, you’ll find a way.”
Help says, “I’m not here to do what
You ought, I’m here to do what
You can’t.” And Grace sings,
“Don’t give up if you don’t meet up,
Play your part, I’ll make up the rest.”
In unison, the three chorus,
“You can if you dare: you will
If you try: we can’t if you don’t”

The delivered prince gratefully bowed as Love bathed him in the sparkling pool that washes brighter than any blend of detergent and disinfectant. He emerged cleansed and cleared and was provided with sufficient quantity of that liquid in case he got contaminated along the line of duty. His Father, unable to just sit and wait, showed up with dazzling robes of righteousness. Love and Grace, now confidants of the young lad, promised never to leave nor forsake him.

Since so much time had been lost in the pit, his Father stayed only long enough to issue fresh instructions to enable him get to his destination, assured that with the ever abiding presence of Love and Grace, the young man will return with nothing less than excellence, “May your eyes look straight, may your feet remain on track, leave nothing to chance. Consider every second as precious, that you may apply your heart to wisdom,” his Father counseled, still trusting the lad with the assignment.

The prince sped off, accompanied by ever reliable Love and Grace. He met others who were either going or passing his way among whom were pride, frivolity, vanity, impatience, impudence, and many others.  Grace exhorted him to come out from among them and be separate because he is a peculiar person. Unfortunately, the couple had become boring while the new folks appeared exciting. You would assume he learned his lessons the first time, but again and again he missed it. He got entangled with people and things he shouldn’t and was distracted time and again. His new friends led contrary to his Father’s instructions. Having wasted time chasing shadows, he resorted to short cuts in order to catch up. Love was sorely tested and Grace insulted but for the sake of his Father and the promise, they hung on.

They arrived early to discover it was the gathering of princes from various kingdoms, for an examination that will distinguish the ruling king and kingdom. He saw the other lads but they were no challenge to him at all, especially considering that Grace was his aid. As for Love, the young man discarded Him though He still followed as a result of the promise. Other participants were not as endowed, or as intelligent and confident as the lad so they gave themselves to thorough revisions but our young friend knew that with Grace, failure was impossible.

He teased while the seemingly less privileged studied. He would not listen to the pleas of Grace, imploring him to study in order to stand out. Instead, he was offended with her archaic suggestions. To him, the test would be a walkover so why the stress? Can’t this ancient couple see that he’s been through so much already and that he needed a little fun? Have they no pity? Besides, who else was as endowed as he? He came across folks who were on a different assignment in another location and because the test was delayed, he offered to escort them. He followed a long way that when he returned, the examination had gone half way.

Unruffled, he strolled toward the supervisor for identification which took a while. The supervisor was amazed, “How can you be so late and so unbothered? Don’t you care if you fail? Will you let your Father down?” But he only smiled, “Grace will make up for lost time.” Special reservations had been made for him because of his Father, a well-known and highly regarded King, who had excelled greatly in His time. However, when they sought him just before the exam commenced, he was nowhere to be found. When he failed to show up, the space and materials were given to another who didn’t come so early but was present nevertheless.

A glance at the other princes diffused concerns – they were all looking lost and didn’t seem to be writing much. When securing space and materials proved so difficult, he lost it! He should have been disqualified for lateness but the supervisor out of pity for him and respect for his Father organized emergency materials and squeezed out a tiny space eventually for him. The questions were so cheap and easy but he was already too agitated and unsettled. He rushed through the answers to meet up. A little before submission time, the chief examiner came in and noticed something strange about his space and answer sheets. He asked him to step aside.

No explanations could exonerate him from the offence of examination malpractice. He would be disqualified and prosecuted for cheating. The shame was unbearable; he had good intentions, never meant to turn up late, and never thought of cheating but who would believe him? The supervisor who had hurriedly compiled the sheets refused to accept responsibility for fear of losing his job. Too late, he wept! He turned to Grace and asked, “Where are you? How can you let this happen to me? How could you let me go through this shame, alone? I’m supposed to be the head and not the tail, the winner and not the loser, how could you let such a thing happen to me?”

In life’s races, the most endowed is not always the first. Grace suffices for everyone, but what counts is how you choose to exploit the grace that you have been given. May you not take God’s grace for granted, amen.

Glory!