Second Chance at a First Impression

Scripture

Jesus …went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’
(Mark 6:1-5NIVUK)

 Second Chance at a First Impression

 This fellow really annoyed me and as he came up after a gathering, I remembered that his son-in-law had told me some really terrific things he had done recently. So, I had my first impressions of him with some helpful updates. “You did a terrific job, Norm, I always enjoy your leadership at these events.” It is hard to shake hands when your jaw has dropped to your knees.

 It turned out he wasn’t that keen on me at first and he said, “Isn’t great to have a second chance at a first impression?” That’s a terrific phrase and has been useful in many situations where I needed to see a person in a new light despite first impressions.

 That’s what the townsfolk of Nazareth faced when, after an absence of a few months, a local man walked into town with a new team for his new campaign of love and forgiveness. When he went to the local house of worship, he was the same guy who attended for 30 years, as the son of Mary & Joseph and as a local carpenter. He may have looked like the carpenter, but he didn’t sound like him – and rather than pleasure, it produced resentment among his peers.

 They had an inability to see the good that was being revealed in a mundane and unexpected person – we suffer from the same malady and can fail to see the grace in another when we least expected it. We need a capacity for wonder and the flexibility to adjust our eyesight if we want to see the presence of God on the world around us.

 A Prayer for Today
O God who came to live among us and in some mysterious way we believe you still do, but we need our ears opened and our eyesight sharpened to first look for the grace in our world and then see it. Grant us vision for beauty and truth, justice and mercy and to celebrate when we see it      …. For Jesus’ sake