Sometimes you find wisdom in places you don't expect.
The other night I pulled out a well worn video tape that I hadn't viewed in quite a while. We got a ton of new movies for Christmas, but I was in the mood for something a little more comfortable. Favorite movies are like that, like a well worn pair of slippers that are broken in just right. Comfortable.
That particular evening's comfort was "Forrest Gump" (1994). I love that character, he gets to go everywhere and meet everyone. The scene that struck me with a particular bit of wisdom was the scene where Forrest meets up with his former commander in Vietnam, a man he only ever referrs to as "Lt. Dan", in spite of the factDan had been discharged some time before that. Anyway, the scene is New Years eve, 1971 and Forrest and Lt. Dan are spending it in a bar not far from Times Square. In walks two of Lt. Dan's "lady friends" (their dress implies they are "friends" with many men in the area. As they watch the infamous ball drop on TV, one of the ladies leans and whispers in Forrest's ear:
"Don't you just love New Year's? You get to start all over. Everybody gets a second chance."
Wisdom.
New year's day is a chance for us to look back, not with pain or regret, but with the perfect vision that only hindsight can provide. And with that hindsight, we can look forward to the year ahead. It is a clean slate. In a way, you can start over.
And, best of all, you do get a second chance. Our God is a God of second chances. (If you don't believe in God as I do, that's ok, He'll give you a second chance too!)
What was 2007 like for you? Are there things you look back on with regret? Are there things that when they come to mind bring a pain to your gut and make you wish you had handled it differently? Are there worse things that make you just want to sit down and sob, grieving for a lost friendship, opportunity, or love?
The better news is, you not only have a clean slate, a second chance, but you have an opportunity to make amends. There's nothing you've done that's so bad you can't try to reach out to those you've hurt. Maybe they will let you, maybe not, but at least you can find peace.
"Everybody gets a second chance"
Take advantage of yours.
Happy New Year.
