This past week, my mind warped back 14 years ago to a Friday night that will be forever etched in my memory. This was the evening where I finally found the courage to ask out a great looking girl named Lesley Bridger. Lesley grabbed my attention in a big way and I knew that I needed to act or miss my opportunity. This was no time to be a wimp!
I took a deep breath and went for it. As I approached Lesley that night at the local hangout, my heart nearly thumped out of my chest, but I felt that I had a chance of getting a positive response from her (What can I say? I was cute!). I began with some small talk and carefully segued into my big question. As I fumbled over my words, I could feel my blood pressure rise. Finally, I managed to ask: “Lesley, would you like to go out with me sometime?” After an awkward silence that seemed an eternity, she said, “No.”
I was flat out rejected. My heart sank in disbelief. I couldn't believe that she turned me down. As I walked home that night, the sting of rejection left a sour taste in my mouth. I was sad and upset about how my plan had unfolded. Rejection isn't a good feeling. There's something about being spurned that leaves feelings of pain and numbness.
During my personal Lenten Bible study this past week from Luke, I read the passage where Jesus tells his disciples about the rejection he would have to face: “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:24-25). Can you imagine how Jesus felt in his humanity? He experienced the pain and loneliness that comes from exclusion and condemnation. Jesus' middle name was rejection. He was even rejected in his hometown of Nazareth (see John 4:44). The ultimate renunciation came when he was hung to die on a cruel Roman cross.
On the night I asked Lesley out on a first date, I believed that I had the chance of not being denied. Because of that hope, I went for it. If I thought the odds were stacked against me, I would have never taken the chance (As a side note, she did eventually go out with me!). In Jesus' case, however, he knew that he would be rejected, but he still chose to come to earth and live among us, even to accept a painful death on the cross. I have such profound and deep respect for Jesus because of this fact. We often run away from rejection, but Jesus walked right into it!
Captain Kristian Simms is the corps officer of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. His pursuit in life is to live every day to the fullest for Christ. He has a strong passion and love for youth ministry and cheers for the greatest hockey team of all time: The Montreal Canadians. He has been married for eight years to Lesley, the best lady in the world. He also has a really cute dog named Mickey.
I took a deep breath and went for it. As I approached Lesley that night at the local hangout, my heart nearly thumped out of my chest, but I felt that I had a chance of getting a positive response from her (What can I say? I was cute!). I began with some small talk and carefully segued into my big question. As I fumbled over my words, I could feel my blood pressure rise. Finally, I managed to ask: “Lesley, would you like to go out with me sometime?” After an awkward silence that seemed an eternity, she said, “No.”
I was flat out rejected. My heart sank in disbelief. I couldn't believe that she turned me down. As I walked home that night, the sting of rejection left a sour taste in my mouth. I was sad and upset about how my plan had unfolded. Rejection isn't a good feeling. There's something about being spurned that leaves feelings of pain and numbness.
During my personal Lenten Bible study this past week from Luke, I read the passage where Jesus tells his disciples about the rejection he would have to face: “For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:24-25). Can you imagine how Jesus felt in his humanity? He experienced the pain and loneliness that comes from exclusion and condemnation. Jesus' middle name was rejection. He was even rejected in his hometown of Nazareth (see John 4:44). The ultimate renunciation came when he was hung to die on a cruel Roman cross.
On the night I asked Lesley out on a first date, I believed that I had the chance of not being denied. Because of that hope, I went for it. If I thought the odds were stacked against me, I would have never taken the chance (As a side note, she did eventually go out with me!). In Jesus' case, however, he knew that he would be rejected, but he still chose to come to earth and live among us, even to accept a painful death on the cross. I have such profound and deep respect for Jesus because of this fact. We often run away from rejection, but Jesus walked right into it!
Captain Kristian Simms is the corps officer of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. His pursuit in life is to live every day to the fullest for Christ. He has a strong passion and love for youth ministry and cheers for the greatest hockey team of all time: The Montreal Canadians. He has been married for eight years to Lesley, the best lady in the world. He also has a really cute dog named Mickey.
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On Thursday, April 2, 2009, Morris said:
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