Lamott_Traveling_Mercies_by_Anne_Lamott

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Chapter 1
Lamott describes an event where she meets Grace Paley, a great author. The two were set to present before a crowd by reading from their works and consequently performing talks from the podium. However, Lamott convinces the producer to allow them to work together as they engage an audience. She saw this as a new and improved way to engage the audience rather than the normal boring method proposed earlier.
This idea, however, failed terribly especially on her part. While Grace’s act was fine Lamott’s long conversations were unappreciated by the audience. This failure causes her a lot of distress, but this is short lived as she later accepts that failure is actually a gift and in fact an angel in disguise.
Later on, the two agree on their earlier plan; they read well-prepared talks from the podium. Grace definitely shines in her presentation while Lamott somehow managed to up her game and had a good presentation (Lamott 138).
The chapter has a deeper message; it seeks to defy the fear of failure; it proves that one should not be afraid to try out a new way, an improvised way, but should soldier on, putting all their best and even if they may face defeat then it is not the end of the world but an actual eye opener and infant; it is a chance to emerges stronger.
The topic of grace is of great relevance to our day-to-day challenges that one has to face the world head on, believing and accepting that they are imperfect and would definitely face failure once in a while, this, however, should be viewed in a positive manner as failure is a gift in disguise which leaves one better and stronger.

“Grace is the light or electricity or juice or breeze that takes you from the isolated place and puts you from the isolated places and puts you with others who are as startled as embarrassed and eventually grateful as you are to be there.” (Lamott 144) This passage offers a detailed exemplary definition of grace that draws a symbolic and thematic mood, and a picture of want happens when one experiences it to the fullest. The passage as a humorous way to illustrate the loneliness experienced by those who have not experienced grace
Chapter 2
Lamott has a great urge to change herself to become a more forgiving person; this leads her to decide to change her attitude towards one of the parents of a son’s classmate. The seemly warm and sweet and harmless parent is oblivious to the kind of hatred she has generated from her acts of kindness. One of the things that seem to generate so much dislike towards the parent is her fit body due to her tireless effort in the gym and her support for Ronald Reagan. Lamott seems to have gradually developed a sense of competition between her son and the other woman’s son. Lamott, however, finds so many hints suggesting that she ought to learn to forgive. She finally realizes she is wrong when finds she is trying to compare the size shoe of the boys and it finally dawns on her to stop her resentful nature and adopt a more forgiving and remorseful spirit.
Lamott conveys a message of love towards each other, in her blindness due to hatred she is unable to realize the warmth and concern freely offered by the parent. She focused on small stuff and missed the big picture if finding love and happiness with the company of a wonderful person. She plainly conveys to use the need to avoid competitions and appreciate the good company we have.
This chapter is undeniably interesting as it highlights the major flaws we make when blinded by un-forgiveness. It shows how ignorant and selfish we become once we only think about ourselves and on feeding our egos. The chapter is an eye-opener to the precedence disaster of an unloving and unforgiving person. As a matter of fact, failing to forgive others makes one a prisoner of issues that keep on tormenting a person unconsciously. A person is likely to suffer from health problems resulting from lack forgiveness nature of a person. One is likely to develop high blood pressure and stomach problems that result from failure to forgive stress. For this reason, it is recommended for people to embrace the seemingly hard virtue of forgives to avoid resulting problems that come with it.
“Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” (Lamott 135) This short sentence has a humorous way to illustrate the kind of situation an unforgiving person sinks in; it explains the inevitable danger and irony of being hurt and dwelling in unending anger towards an unknowing person who may be at peace and in a somber state of mind while you suffer immensely.
Work Cited
Lamott, Anne. Traveling Mercies: Some thoughts on faith. Anchor, 2000: 138-144