February 1, 2024 • 16 mins
"I only see God's work (Grace) in my rear view mirror". Have you ever found yourself looking back at a chapter of life, only to discover the grace you couldn't see while you were in the midst of it? Carri and Ebony sit down to weave through the concept of 'grace in review,' exploring how the passage of time can offer us a clearer, more enriched perspective on the events that shape our lives. As we close one year and step into another, this is a beautiful practice to be buoyed up by what Grace is doing in your life...each day.
Joining us from Nashville, Tennessee, Ebony gives a great analogy comparing life's journey to attending a concert, where the premium front-row seats might not always offer the best view. There are direct disadvantages in fact. There is a lot of power of stepping back—both literally and figuratively—to gain a vantage point that transforms our understanding of life's symphony. As we embark on this heart-to-heart, Carrie and Ebony invite you to revisit your own life's stages, encouraging a recognition of the grace that envelops us, often waiting patiently to be acknowledged from a higher view.
The rear view mirror is what creates our testimony.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Hello, hello, I'm CarrieRichard.
Carri Richard (00:24):
I'm a mindset coach and I help people make
space and enjoy ridethe rid ride.
And we are here today to talkabout grace and Ebony.
Who are you?
Ebony Gilbert (00:37):
I am Ebony Gilbert.
I am talking today fromNashville, Tennessee.
I'm excited to spend time withyou all Awesome awesome.
Carri Richard (00:51):
So as we're recording this.
The year is ending and we'removing into a new year, and
often becomes a time forreflection, looking back on the
year, and so Ebony and I had acouple words before this and
(01:12):
talked about Grace in Review, sothe concept of looking back.
I used to say I only see God inmy rear view mirror.
I don't find that to be totallytrue these days, however, it
can be easier to see all thework and all the grace when I
(01:40):
reflect versus as when I'm inthe midst.
So any thoughts, Ebony?
Ebony Gilbert (01:54):
As you reflect, is there any time and space
limitation in that reflection?
Does it have to be a year out?
Does it have to be a week out?
It doesn't matter the distancebetween the event and the
reflection point.
Carri Richard (02:11):
That's a good question.
You know, speaking in terms ofgrace, time and location are
relevant.
So no, and actually I've hadexperiences where I don't even
see the grace in it till yearslater, because it's a difficult
(02:35):
situation or I think it reallythere was no solution, and then
years later, God seems to wrapit all up in a bow.
How about for you?
Ebony Gilbert (02:53):
I, you know I'm gonna go with me.
Okay, Good.
Carri Richard (02:57):
Okay.
Ebony Gilbert (02:57):
You know that's like my disclaimer, for I'm
getting ready to go on a ride.
Carri Richard (03:00):
I love it, let's go.
Ebony Gilbert (03:03):
Do you go to concerts?
Do you attend concerts?
Have you been to a concert -whether it's a live band or a
symphony, there's multipleinstruments, there's multiple
pieces.
There's one conductor, butthere's multiple.
There's always one lead, butthere's multiple.
So the front rows of theconcert, in whatever venue, they
(03:26):
seem to be the best seats inthe house, right?
Carri Richard (03:28):
They're often the most expensive.
Ebony Gilbert (03:30):
Of course they are, because you want to be the
closest to the action, theclosest to the show.
Well, ticketmaster hasdiscovered this phenomenon in
the last five to 10 years, wherethey have started charging just
as much, if not more, for thefirst row of the balcony seat
and it's not even the entirebalcony seat, it's from like
(03:53):
maybe a fourth in on each sideand it's the middle front row of
the balcony costs just as much,if not more, than the first few
rows closest to the stage.
So when I think about this, I'mtrying to paint a picture Big
Symphony Hall, big stage, lotsof instruments, one conductor,
(04:14):
one lead, and I'm watching thisplay out.
And when I'm in those first fewrows I hear just fine, I think.
I don't think I'm missinganything.
I can see what's happening onthe stage, I'm able to scan, I
can hear.
But as time passes, whateverthat time may be a week, a month
, an hour I take a step back toa different row.
(04:37):
So the rows are the sequencesof time, they're the seconds of
time, and by the time I get alittle bit higher and a little
bit further back and I'm on thatfront row of the balcony now I
realized that I was missing somuch in those front rows near
the stage.
(04:57):
(Carri - Yeah).
So I think I was seeing what Iwas supposed to be seeing when I
was in that front row.
.
Now that time has passed and Ibacked up a little bit and I've
gone a little bit higher, theacoustics are much better and
the view is so much better andclearer because now I don't have
(05:18):
to scan and pan around the roomto see from corner to corner, I
can look straight ahead and mywindow is wider and I can see it
all so clearly.
So it's not that I wasn't seeingon the front row in the process
, it's not that I wasn't seeingon the front row in the present,
because we're comparing theserows to time the front row is
(05:42):
the present view was happeningright now in my life.
It's not that I wasn't able tosee, I could see.
But as I get a little older andtime passes and I get a little
higher in my faith, a littlemore elevated in my view, in my
perspective, "and I understandwhy the value of those seats in
(06:03):
the balcony are just as much ifnot more than those front rows.
Because in that balcony comes alittle bit of wisdom, you know,
(Carri- yeah), and it's alittle bit more difficult to get
to.
I got to go up some stairs toget there.
I got to climb a little bit toget there, you know.
So how do I see it in the rearview?
(06:26):
I see it from the balcony.
Carri Richard (06:31):
So why do you think you see it more clearly as
time passes?
Ebony Gilbert (06:39):
Let's go back to the concert.
When I'm on that front row, allthe different things that are
going along can easily beconfused, as noise, if
I don't have a trained ear,right.
Because there's so muchhappening and the noise can get
(07:03):
in the way of how I'minterpreting this show.
This beautiful symphony that'scoming together can sound noisy
and if the noise is distractions, I can't tell if it's really a
trumpet or not.
It's just loud, you know.
(07:26):
So I think I see it better andhear it better when I get
further away, because now havesound absorbers and the
acoustics are working better.
Things are absorbing the noisypart of it and I'm just hearing
the music, you know.
I can't tell that there's Trashon stage and it's dust.
(07:49):
It doesn't matter, because Ipulled out a little bit and you
know, I think the challenge is,regardless of what my seat is in
that house, how do I learn Inthe moment to translate the
noise into music?
Carri Richard (08:10):
Yeah, I love that analogy.
So I'm sitting in the front row, and for me to see all the
grace that's happening in thepresent is very difficult.
It's difficult because if I'min the front row, I can't I
can't see the whole orchestra atthe same time, so I'm being
(08:34):
pulled from.
Oh, oh, my gosh, I love oboeand I'm hearing the oboe and,
and then the drums come and likeI'm over here in the drums,
like they're that.
That analogy of back and forth,what, what is going on with me
with respect to grace is mypersonality on one side, and
(08:57):
grace, like my attachments andgrace, how I want things to turn
out, like me personalizingwhat's going on in any given
thing and what God is doing inthe process.
I want it a certain way.
You know, I want to hear theoboe, I'm going to turn my head
(09:19):
and I'm going to lose themissing the drum.
Exactly.
I want to hear the drum likeI'm in control.
In the present, or I think I am, or I'm attached to an outcome,
or I'm or I'm angry about howit's going, or something like
that, whereas as time goes by wehave a great forgetter right?
(09:44):
That view broadens, theperspective broadens and then I
can get out of my ownpersonality, my own humanness,
and Just see the work that wasdone in spite of me.
I'd take it a step further.
Ebony Gilbert (10:02):
OK, good, let's go, let's go.
You got it ready to go.
When you're in those front rows.
You don't even know who else isin the room.
(Carri -Yeah, that's a greatpoint) you think this is your
own personal concert.
This is your experience.
They're here for you.
Carri Richard (10:19):
I was at a concert and I bought these seats
.
I was so excited and they wereexpensive, right, they were
right, the stage was a stage.
But then they had this outerstage that they were going to,
that they were doing stuff on,and we were right in the middle
of that, right in the middle,and I was like, yes, yes, so
(10:40):
exciting.
Like we are in, we're gettingthe sound sucked and all I was
doing the whole time was thisI'm turning around for those who
aren't watching us.
You know I was yeah, so anyway.
Ebony Gilbert (11:02):
Yes, we're thinking about this From the
perspective of community and weneed each other and we thrive
off each other.
And I'm better when I knowyou're good and when you're
you're celebrating the Oboe solo.
I'm feeding off of that, andwhen I'm in the balcony and I'm
(11:22):
backed away a little bit, I cansee how this, this event, this
show, is blessing people besidesmyself and it's bigger than me.
Carri Richard (11:32):
And now I'm fueled and my cup is being
filled because it's not about methat the word that is coming as
you're painting that picture ishumility.
Ebony Gilbert (11:49):
Thank you for listening.
Appreciate you coming to theshow.
You asked me one question and Iwent down a hole.
Thank you for going on thatride with me.
Carri appreciate it.
Oh my gosh, yeah.
Carri Richard (11:59):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And that broader view - I getthat broader view by taking time
to reflect, to look back,because I can be full steam
ahead all the time and when I dothat, I tend to forget Who's in
(12:22):
charge.
Ebony Gilbert (12:29):
The rear view mirror is what creates our
testimony.
Carri Richard (12:32):
Absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (12:33):
Absolutely, and the testimony is so powerful.
Carri Richard (12:36):
It's so powerful and it also that testimony is so
powerful and it reminds me ofwho God is in the present, of
the grace that's here in thepresent.
As you were talking about beingin the balcony and time, having
(12:57):
time, allowing time to pass, italso gives me grace that I
can't see it all in the midst.
It's okay, (Ebony - you're notsupposed to) Yeah, yes, yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (13:15):
You're not supposed to, and it encourages
me because every personalexperience that I think is
personal.
I'm on the front row of it.
I know that eventually I'mgoing to pan out, I'm going to
back away and I'm going torealize it needed to be personal
for that point in time.
Yeah, it needed to be, so Icould grow and I could mature
(13:36):
and I can get what the wisdom Ineeded out of it.
But now that I'm a little bitsatisfied there, I can back up
and I can go higher and now Ican take everything I learned on
that front row and use it tobless others.
Carri Richard (13:52):
That's the grace.
Absolutely, absolutely.
I love it.
That's good stuff.
So if you are in the midst ofsomething and it's super
uncomfortable and you don't seesolution and you can't see grace
, my encouragement is to just beokay with that and know that in
(14:21):
time.
I've been known to say, "Idon't know what you're doing
right now because I can't see it, but I know you're doing it and
that's enough.
Ebony Gilbert (14:32):
Yeah, that's enough.
Carri Richard (14:37):
And when I don't believe that, then I call you
Ebony and I say I don't knowwhat's going on.
I know something's happening,I'm not in control, and I just
need to tell you that.
Ebony Gilbert (14:51):
And I'll say that's okay.
Carri Richard (14:53):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (14:55):
That's okay.
Carri Richard (14:58):
Encourage each other.
Ebony Gilbert (14:59):
Yes, yes, Life is a symphony.
Yes, it is, and choose yourseat wisely.
Carri Richard (15:14):
And be willing to climb the stairs to the balcony
.
Ebony Gilbert (15:16):
Boom the view is better.
Yeah, I love it.
I love it.
Merry Christmas, happy new year.
Carri Richard (15:27):
Merry Christmas, happy new year, grace out.
Ebony Gilbert (15:31):
Grace out.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Thank you so much for joining us.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(15:56):
on the lookout.
Welcome to Grace Among Us, the podcast where we
unearth the many faces andplaces of grace and share
stories of the power of grace inour human lives.
Our desire is that this willinspire you to see grace in your
own life and share it withothers.
Hello, hello, I'm CarrieRichard.
Carri Richard (00:24):
I'm a mindset coach and I help people make
space and enjoy ridethe rid ride.
And we are here today to talkabout grace and Ebony.
Who are you?
Ebony Gilbert (00:37):
I am Ebony Gilbert.
I am talking today fromNashville, Tennessee.
I'm excited to spend time withyou all Awesome awesome.
Carri Richard (00:51):
So as we're recording this.
The year is ending and we'removing into a new year, and
often becomes a time forreflection, looking back on the
year, and so Ebony and I had acouple words before this and
(01:12):
talked about Grace in Review, sothe concept of looking back.
I used to say I only see God inmy rear view mirror.
I don't find that to be totallytrue these days, however, it
can be easier to see all thework and all the grace when I
(01:40):
reflect versus as when I'm inthe midst.
So any thoughts, Ebony?
Ebony Gilbert (01:54):
As you reflect, is there any time and space
limitation in that reflection?
Does it have to be a year out?
Does it have to be a week out?
It doesn't matter the distancebetween the event and the
reflection point.
Carri Richard (02:11):
That's a good question.
You know, speaking in terms ofgrace, time and location are
relevant.
So no, and actually I've hadexperiences where I don't even
see the grace in it till yearslater, because it's a difficult
(02:35):
situation or I think it reallythere was no solution, and then
years later, God seems to wrapit all up in a bow.
How about for you?
Ebony Gilbert (02:53):
I, you know I'm gonna go with me.
Okay, Good.
Carri Richard (02:57):
Okay.
Ebony Gilbert (02:57):
You know that's like my disclaimer, for I'm
getting ready to go on a ride.
Carri Richard (03:00):
I love it, let's go.
Ebony Gilbert (03:03):
Do you go to concerts?
Do you attend concerts?
Have you been to a concert -whether it's a live band or a
symphony, there's multipleinstruments, there's multiple
pieces.
There's one conductor, butthere's multiple.
There's always one lead, butthere's multiple.
So the front rows of theconcert, in whatever venue, they
(03:26):
seem to be the best seats inthe house, right?
Carri Richard (03:28):
They're often the most expensive.
Ebony Gilbert (03:30):
Of course they are, because you want to be the
closest to the action, theclosest to the show.
Well, ticketmaster hasdiscovered this phenomenon in
the last five to 10 years, wherethey have started charging just
as much, if not more, for thefirst row of the balcony seat
and it's not even the entirebalcony seat, it's from like
(03:53):
maybe a fourth in on each sideand it's the middle front row of
the balcony costs just as much,if not more, than the first few
rows closest to the stage.
So when I think about this, I'mtrying to paint a picture Big
Symphony Hall, big stage, lotsof instruments, one conductor,
(04:14):
one lead, and I'm watching thisplay out.
And when I'm in those first fewrows I hear just fine, I think.
I don't think I'm missinganything.
I can see what's happening onthe stage, I'm able to scan, I
can hear.
But as time passes, whateverthat time may be a week, a month
, an hour I take a step back toa different row.
(04:37):
So the rows are the sequencesof time, they're the seconds of
time, and by the time I get alittle bit higher and a little
bit further back and I'm on thatfront row of the balcony now I
realized that I was missing somuch in those front rows near
the stage.
(04:57):
(Carri - Yeah).
So I think I was seeing what Iwas supposed to be seeing when I
was in that front row.
.
Now that time has passed and Ibacked up a little bit and I've
gone a little bit higher, theacoustics are much better and
the view is so much better andclearer because now I don't have
(05:18):
to scan and pan around the roomto see from corner to corner, I
can look straight ahead and mywindow is wider and I can see it
all so clearly.
So it's not that I wasn't seeingon the front row in the process
, it's not that I wasn't seeingon the front row in the present,
because we're comparing theserows to time the front row is
(05:42):
the present view was happeningright now in my life.
It's not that I wasn't able tosee, I could see.
But as I get a little older andtime passes and I get a little
higher in my faith, a littlemore elevated in my view, in my
perspective, "and I understandwhy the value of those seats in
(06:03):
the balcony are just as much ifnot more than those front rows.
Because in that balcony comes alittle bit of wisdom, you know,
(Carri- yeah), and it's alittle bit more difficult to get
to.
I got to go up some stairs toget there.
I got to climb a little bit toget there, you know.
So how do I see it in the rearview?
(06:26):
I see it from the balcony.
Carri Richard (06:31):
So why do you think you see it more clearly as
time passes?
Ebony Gilbert (06:39):
Let's go back to the concert.
When I'm on that front row, allthe different things that are
going along can easily beconfused, as noise, if
I don't have a trained ear,right.
Because there's so muchhappening and the noise can get
(07:03):
in the way of how I'minterpreting this show.
This beautiful symphony that'scoming together can sound noisy
and if the noise is distractions, I can't tell if it's really a
trumpet or not.
It's just loud, you know.
(07:26):
So I think I see it better andhear it better when I get
further away, because now havesound absorbers and the
acoustics are working better.
Things are absorbing the noisypart of it and I'm just hearing
the music, you know.
I can't tell that there's Trashon stage and it's dust.
(07:49):
It doesn't matter, because Ipulled out a little bit and you
know, I think the challenge is,regardless of what my seat is in
that house, how do I learn Inthe moment to translate the
noise into music?
Carri Richard (08:10):
Yeah, I love that analogy.
So I'm sitting in the front row, and for me to see all the
grace that's happening in thepresent is very difficult.
It's difficult because if I'min the front row, I can't I
can't see the whole orchestra atthe same time, so I'm being
(08:34):
pulled from.
Oh, oh, my gosh, I love oboeand I'm hearing the oboe and,
and then the drums come and likeI'm over here in the drums,
like they're that.
That analogy of back and forth,what, what is going on with me
with respect to grace is mypersonality on one side, and
(08:57):
grace, like my attachments andgrace, how I want things to turn
out, like me personalizingwhat's going on in any given
thing and what God is doing inthe process.
I want it a certain way.
You know, I want to hear theoboe, I'm going to turn my head
(09:19):
and I'm going to lose themissing the drum.
Exactly.
I want to hear the drum likeI'm in control.
In the present, or I think I am, or I'm attached to an outcome,
or I'm or I'm angry about howit's going, or something like
that, whereas as time goes by wehave a great forgetter right?
(09:44):
That view broadens, theperspective broadens and then I
can get out of my ownpersonality, my own humanness,
and Just see the work that wasdone in spite of me.
I'd take it a step further.
Ebony Gilbert (10:02):
OK, good, let's go, let's go.
You got it ready to go.
When you're in those front rows.
You don't even know who else isin the room.
(Carri -Yeah, that's a greatpoint) you think this is your
own personal concert.
This is your experience.
They're here for you.
Carri Richard (10:19):
I was at a concert and I bought these seats
.
I was so excited and they wereexpensive, right, they were
right, the stage was a stage.
But then they had this outerstage that they were going to,
that they were doing stuff on,and we were right in the middle
of that, right in the middle,and I was like, yes, yes, so
(10:40):
exciting.
Like we are in, we're gettingthe sound sucked and all I was
doing the whole time was thisI'm turning around for those who
aren't watching us.
You know I was yeah, so anyway.
Ebony Gilbert (11:02):
Yes, we're thinking about this From the
perspective of community and weneed each other and we thrive
off each other.
And I'm better when I knowyou're good and when you're
you're celebrating the Oboe solo.
I'm feeding off of that, andwhen I'm in the balcony and I'm
(11:22):
backed away a little bit, I cansee how this, this event, this
show, is blessing people besidesmyself and it's bigger than me.
Carri Richard (11:32):
And now I'm fueled and my cup is being
filled because it's not about methat the word that is coming as
you're painting that picture ishumility.
Ebony Gilbert (11:49):
Thank you for listening.
Appreciate you coming to theshow.
You asked me one question and Iwent down a hole.
Thank you for going on thatride with me.
Carri appreciate it.
Oh my gosh, yeah.
Carri Richard (11:59):
Absolutely, absolutely.
And that broader view - I getthat broader view by taking time
to reflect, to look back,because I can be full steam
ahead all the time and when I dothat, I tend to forget Who's in
(12:22):
charge.
Ebony Gilbert (12:29):
The rear view mirror is what creates our
testimony.
Carri Richard (12:32):
Absolutely.
Ebony Gilbert (12:33):
Absolutely, and the testimony is so powerful.
Carri Richard (12:36):
It's so powerful and it also that testimony is so
powerful and it reminds me ofwho God is in the present, of
the grace that's here in thepresent.
As you were talking about beingin the balcony and time, having
(12:57):
time, allowing time to pass, italso gives me grace that I
can't see it all in the midst.
It's okay, (Ebony - you're notsupposed to) Yeah, yes, yeah.
Ebony Gilbert (13:15):
You're not supposed to, and it encourages
me because every personalexperience that I think is
personal.
I'm on the front row of it.
I know that eventually I'mgoing to pan out, I'm going to
back away and I'm going torealize it needed to be personal
for that point in time.
Yeah, it needed to be, so Icould grow and I could mature
(13:36):
and I can get what the wisdom Ineeded out of it.
But now that I'm a little bitsatisfied there, I can back up
and I can go higher and now Ican take everything I learned on
that front row and use it tobless others.
Carri Richard (13:52):
That's the grace.
Absolutely, absolutely.
I love it.
That's good stuff.
So if you are in the midst ofsomething and it's super
uncomfortable and you don't seesolution and you can't see grace
, my encouragement is to just beokay with that and know that in
(14:21):
time.
I've been known to say, "Idon't know what you're doing
right now because I can't see it, but I know you're doing it and
that's enough.
Ebony Gilbert (14:32):
Yeah, that's enough.
Carri Richard (14:37):
And when I don't believe that, then I call you
Ebony and I say I don't knowwhat's going on.
I know something's happening,I'm not in control, and I just
need to tell you that.
Ebony Gilbert (14:51):
And I'll say that's okay.
Carri Richard (14:53):
Yes.
Ebony Gilbert (14:55):
That's okay.
Carri Richard (14:58):
Encourage each other.
Ebony Gilbert (14:59):
Yes, yes, Life is a symphony.
Yes, it is, and choose yourseat wisely.
Carri Richard (15:14):
And be willing to climb the stairs to the balcony
.
Ebony Gilbert (15:16):
Boom the view is better.
Yeah, I love it.
I love it.
Merry Christmas, happy new year.
Carri Richard (15:27):
Merry Christmas, happy new year, grace out.
Ebony Gilbert (15:31):
Grace out.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Thank you so much for joining us.
If you enjoyed this episode,please let us know.
We love to hear from you andshare it with a friend.
Also, please be sure tosubscribe so you're notified
when a new episode is posted.
We hope you're leaving withanother pointer to grace, a new
perspective that will light itup in your own life.
Until next time, be well, bebold, be kind to yourself and be
(15:56):
on the lookout.
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