...Twice Shy

I fancy myself an adventurous food person. I like to say that I will try anything…once. But some foods I will only try once. A generous host family in Venezuela served spaghetti to my group in what they called “American style” – pasta topped with ketchup and mayonnaise. That’s right, mayo on spaghetti. I’m not sure who convinced our hosts that Americans prepare spaghetti this way. Probably our mischievous group leader. I tried the mayo-sauce. Never again.

We tend to learn from bad experiences. In fact, certain aspects of our lives are shaped by bad experiences. If you’ve ever owned a Ford that spent more time in the mechanic’s garage than in your own, you probably never bought another Ford. If you received poor service at a particular hotel or restaurant, you may have crossed that chain off your list for all time, based on one bad experience. I once agreed to meet up with an “old friend” who wanted to share with me about a great financial opportunity…lesson learned.

This principle holds true when it comes to faith as well. If you have had a bad experience with a particular church or religion, or with a person who adheres to a particular faith, you may have made a conscious decision to avoid future interactions with that religion, or with “those people”. This happens. Maybe you’ve been cut off in traffic by a car sporting a Jesus sticker. Or watched a dude wearing a Christian t-shirt act like a jerk to the waitress. Unfortunately, people don’t always practice what they preach. I am a Christian and I can testify to this personally. I don’t always practice what I preach. There’s a chance that at some point in my life, I have been the “bad experience” that has turned someone away from Christianity or Christian people. My consolation is that I still have hope, still receive love, still find joy in my faith, I spite of my imperfection. And as I continue this journey, I believe I can be changed, transformed into a new me, a little kinder, more patient, less prideful me, each day.

What would it take for you to give faith another look? Not necessarily overlook the offences of the “faithful”, but see beyond our imperfection to the faith that keeps us growing. Is it worth the risk? Or are you once bitten, twice shy?