40 Acts - Day 36: ' Wild Card '

Today you get the chance to play your ‘wild card’. It’s the act we left a big question mark over so we could let you—the 40acts community—give us direction.

What you told us was (1) there were some acts you went all out on and would love to repeat and (2) there were some you bailed out on and would like another chance to try.

The Bible is full of people who received second chances, and even third and fourth chances: Peter, Jonah, Mark, Samson, David, the list goes on.

So that gave us an idea: let’s make today the day of the Second Chance. Another chance to embrace the challenge you loved or another chance to step up to the one you missed first time round.

So seize your moment– this is your second chance.

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time

Jonah 3:1

It was Sunday morning in the perpetually crowded post-church coffee scrum and there she was. I'd heard about this girl and I'd seen her a couple of times from afar but we'd never met.

This was the moment to introduce myself. I had an accent (she's American, I'm British), so what could go wrong? After all, you only get one chance to make a first impression, right? So I channeled my inner Hugh Grant, walked over to her and confidently made “a move".

We started dating shortly after that but it was short lived. Our lives were headed in different directions and while we remained friends that was it all it was to be.

Years later, I had cause to go back to the States and as we were still in touch, we met for a coffee. It caught me by surprise but in that moment I realised that while life was now more complicated, there seemed to be no real reason why this couldn't work again. A restless redeye flight home, and a couple of missed calls later, we talked about giving “us” a second chance.

If you ask my wife about our first encounter, she will have no recollection of a conversation with the englishman who ummed and erred amongst the sugar sachets and stirrers.

So, I’m thankful for multiple second chances. We often remember those first times but how often do we remember the second chances?

A first time may initially be more memorable but a second chance makes us more aware of what life could have been without it. It is a gift and this week we remember the greatest gift of all. Grace - a life-giving gift, generously given over and over again. A gift that gives us all more than just a second chance.

Today's blog was written by Jon March, Vicar at St Luke's Kentish Town. 
Find out more about him and support his chosen charity here.

To see today's challenge in full - Click Here