Does grace exist?

The woman on the radio plugging her book was talking about her conception of ‘grace’: she posits that it’s about how we move through the world, that graceful people put other people’s needs ahead of their own, are kind, polite and considerate to everyone they meet. On that basis can we say that grace exists anymore? It made me think of some of the people I met as I made my way around the world:

• the barman in a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro who stepped in to help me when the waiter and I couldn’t understand each other and all I wanted was my dinner and a caipirinha. He saw me struggling with the language and helped me and made a special drink just for me. Grace.
• Phoebe from Brisbane whom I met in Bali and did yoga with – when I got to Brisbane she took me out for dinner and spent the weekend with me. Grace.
• Cathy in Perth in Western Australia who took me swimming in the Indian Ocean on my first night in Australia. Grace.
• James in Sydney who poured me a big glass of wine after I drove over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and braved the Sydney traffic. Grace.
• Emma in New Zealand who bought me a beautiful pair of gloves when I admired hers. Grace.
• Jeremias in Ushuaia who went out in the cold to get a can of coke so I could try the national drink fresnet. Grace.

Most of these people were strangers to me, but their hospitality and kindness made them feel like friends. Truly graceful people. Grace does exist in the world.