A Leap of Grace

A Leap of Grace

Leap year comes only once every four years — an extra day added to align our human calendar with the actual movement of the earth. Astronomer Johannes Kepler, a devout Christian in the seventeenth century, called the leap year 'a reminder that creation is more generous than our categories.' He found in the extra day a small parable: reality always exceeds the boxes we build to contain it. Grace works the same way. Every time we set a limit on what God might do — based on our track record, our deserving, our theology of scarcity — grace exceeds the boundary. The extra day is a small sign of a God whose generosity outpaces our calendars.

2 Corinthians 9:8 is a verse of extravagant sufficiency: 'God is able to bless you abundantly' — the Greek is perisseuein, to overflow, to abound. The word appears twice in the verse: God's abundance flows into your having all you need so that you in turn abound in every good work. It is a cycle of grace — God's overflow to you enables your overflow to others. Leap year, occurring only once every four years, offers a gentle invitation to take stock: in this extra day, what am I doing with the abundance I've been given? Abundance is not primarily about finances. It is about every resource God has given — time, gifts, relationships, opportunities, even an extra day. How will this extra day be spent?