Second Chances

Ever hear the phrase, “Please allow me a second chance at a first impression?”

I read these words from the book, A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles.

A few years back, one of my sisters as well as my husband read the book and recommended it to me. I tried, but was skeptical. How interesting could the story of a Russian Count, under house arrest be? I took it back to the library. 

Then this year, as the month of November, with its cloudy, rainy, dark days descended upon us, I took a second chance at reading A Gentleman in Moscow again. After all, what else can I do when the weather is as it is? Surrendering myself to the narrative, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

“Please allow me a second chance at a first impression,” was a message sent to Alexander, the main character of the book, from a woman who wanted Alexander to give her a second chance at allowing him to know her aside from their first awkward encounter. 

Receiving the note, Alexander muses about the human condition; “Human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our reconsideration and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged them in every possible setting at every possible hour.”

I had the privilege of being given a second chance.

Two weeks ago, I was one of eleven “Living Books,” that patrons could check out at the event called “Curious Conversations,” hosted by our public library. 

Participating patrons were given a synopsis of each “Living Book,” then they signed up to borrow the book for 15 minutes. As a “Living Book,” I had the opportunity to sit across from six different patrons, one at a time and tell my story. 

My third patron sat down and listened to my story with great interest. When I finished, she told me, “I bought your book and started reading it. But I was afraid it would be too religious so I set it aside. But after meeting you, I realize you’re not religious at all. Like me, you are on a spiritual journey.” 

How wonderful that not only did my book get a second chance, but having met me personally, this person gave me a second chance too. 

Why Bother?

Why bother being grateful for second chances? When we remember that human beings are capricious, complex and contradictory, we might also remember to withhold our opinions until we are able to spend a little more time with them getting to know them a little better. 

Who doesn’t need a second chance at a first impression?

P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.