Grace is a positive influence emanating from a source greater than us. It enhances our spiritual well-being and leads to improved flow and ease in our lives. The authors share powerful stories about living with grace, flow, and ease, and ways you can actively invite these joyful gifts to work for you as part of an awakened, intentional life. Living with Grace, Flow and Ease By Cheryl Dodd Baldwin, Mary Ellen Finerty Balboa Press Copyright © 2013 Cheryl Dodd Baldwin & Mary Ellen Finerty All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4525-8832-2 Contents Acknowledgments, ix, Introduction, xi, Part I: Grace, 1, Story 1: The Bridge, 5, Story 2: The Bank Robbery, 9, Story 3: 1993-Cheryl and Grace, 13, Story 4: We're the Ace to Each Other's Grace, 17, Story 5: Hurricane Emily Cozumel, Mexico, 21, Story 6: Ana: Romania, 2000, 35, Part II: Flow, 39, Story 7: 4:30 a.m. Taxi Ride: San Diego, California, 41, Story 8: London Airport, England, 43, Part III: Ease, 47, Story 9: Translation, 49, Story 10: London Airport Again Fish and Chips, 51, Story 11: Amelia House, 55, Part IV: How It Works, 59, References, 71, Afterword, 73, About the Authors, 75, CHAPTER 1 Story One THE BRIDGE On a trip to California, Mary and I flew to San Francisco and rented a fun and spiffy, yellow Mustang convertible. Our plan was to travel up the beautiful coastline and then turn inland toward the Napa Valley area. We wanted to be there before nightfall and spend the night where we had reservations. Neither of us likes to drive in unknown territory after dark (this was before GPS), but it evolved in a way that this was not going to happen. Traveling with our map directions, we hit a heavy rainstorm. After driving too long on a road that the map indicated would only be for two miles, we realized we had missed our turn. We were on a highway traveling at least fifty miles per hour, trying to find a place to turn around. I could see what looked like a small bridge to the right. Thinking I could make the short turn onto the bridge, back up, and quickly make a U-turn, I began braking. I was trying not to skid while keeping sight of the one-lane bridge with the headlights. I turned, afraid we would go off the bridge in the opposite direction if I wasn't careful. I had underestimated the distance, and the car was left straddled between land and the side of the bridge. Mary was leaning over to the left, almost on top of me, and when I asked her what she was doing, she exclaimed that there was a huge drop-off on her side. I tried to look down on the right and could see in the little light left from the day that it was a long drop. My foot had been planted on the brake pedal, and my leg was shaking. We both got quiet, realizing our predicament and feeling our trembling. One false calculation, forward or backward, and we would be falling. We both asked for Grace. "Please God, help us get on this bridge safely." I asked Mary, "Ready?" She said, "No, wait!" (This is her usual answer when in a jam). We both continued to be still inside for a moment longer, and then we felt ready at the same time. I held my breath and took my foot off the brake and accelerated. We didn't know how in the world it was possible—but we were on the bridge. Not only were we on the small bridge, the car was straight! I put the car in park and we both breathed a sigh of relief and tried to calm down. We both knew we were sitting in the hands of Grace . Something carried us onto that bridge and straightened the car. We were sitting in safety, now ready to back straight off the bridge, get ourselves turned in the right direction, and make our way to our destination for the night. We shuddered at the thought of our families being informed that we had driven off into some deep ravine in a heavy rainstorm on a California highway. That is not something we would wish for them at all. Now, after we gave our next prayer to be able to back out onto the highway without incident, we were on our way, shaken, but awestruck. * * * Many of us have experienced or witnessed life-threatening situations where there was a powerful intervention that saved those involved. It cannot be explained how it happened; it just happened. Has there been a similar incident in your life? Did you recognize the Grace that was present at the time, or are you just now seeing it as you reflect back? Often, we call these "miracles" or "divine intervention." It maybe a big event or something that was seemingly small; yet Grace intervened and changed the situation. If you do not feel that something like this has happened in your life, don't worry. Grace is always there; you just need to learn to recognize her, and you will. CHAPTER 2 Story Two THE BANK ROBBERY Mary and I were leaving early on a Wednesday morning to join some friends in Maui, Hawaii. Given my schedule of meetings with clients on this particular Monday and Tuesday, my window of time to get the cash I needed for the tr