People Change

In Spring of 1998 I got the chance to study abroad for a quarter at Oxford University in England.  One of the great things about being at Oxford was that the Oxford Student Union drew incredible guest speakers each week.  The Prime Minister of Israel came one week; Martina Navratilova came another.  One week, Ben Affleck came.  He was fairly new on the Hollywood scene with his buddy, Matt Damon.  He was dating Gwyneth Paltrow at the time, who came with him but didn't speak.  I went to hear Affleck, and from best I could tell, he was an idiot.  He was young and brash.  He spoke about political matters about which he knew very little.  He made over-arching economic and educational claims.  He blasted Hollywood even though it had afforded him his new found riches and fame.  The students there, Britain's elite, ate him alive.  They peppered him with hard hitting questions on his political views and economic claims.  He was flustered and clearly shaken.  I sat back and just watched, thinking that the tomatoes were coming out soon.

I recalled that scene as I listened to a grown Affleck accept the Oscar for Argo, which won best picture at the Academy Awards on Sunday.  His acceptance speech was sincere, mature, and heartfelt.  He admitted that 15 years ago, he got up to accept the award for Good Will Hunting as a kid, not really knowing what he was doing.  He is wiser now.  It's clear...he's changed.

We are so tempted to assume about people what we see in them at their worst.  We think that they will never grow up and generally don't give people the benefit of the doubt.  Of course, this is especially true of those in the public eye.  Athletes, musicians and actors make one bad mistake, and it follows them around like a disease for the rest of their careers.  However, we do the same in everyday life. We assume that co-workers, friends, and family who disappoint us won't ever change or grow up.  We allow one mistake to shape our views of people and define who they are in our minds.  But we serve a God who welcomes change.  We are always invited to start over.  In fact, God says that we become a 'New Creation' in Christ.  You can change, and people around you can change, too.  Is it time you give someone a second chance?  Is it time you do some changing yourself.  You don't have to be what you've always been.  You don't have to be what your worst moment or year has tried to tell you that you are.  You can be all that God wants you to be any time you want.  People CAN change.