REHEARSALS

Oh the joys of having a chance to make a mistake in private before any eyes have a chance to learn about it. There is just a certain satisfaction that comes from being able to learn the flaws in some plan or behavior before you actually do whatever with a risk of consequences.

Unfortunately there are so many occasions in life when it seems that we don't have a chance at any rehearsals. We have to either winged it our first time or pretend we are experienced.

Now when it involves another person's opinion, it really isn't that surprising that it makes us never. We do often worry about what people think.

And depending on the person we may really dread how life pushes us into such situations. It can make things really annoying and stressful.

What can really make it worse is when all of it doesn't result in changing that person's opinion. That can really sting.

I can think of several times that has happened to me. You sit back and work so hard to do things right in order to get someone's approval and then when you are done, they in no way compliment your effort. Instead they are prone to criticize, which is hardly an improvement.

And no matter how often we go through that process, it seems like we still fret more over what somebody thinks of our efforts than what God thinks. Somewhere in the back of our mind we end up convinced God will somehow be more understanding.

Which is true for the most part, but it doesn't mean God is stupid. Those who presume upon the Lord's grace often find out that reality too late.

What we can easily forget above all else is how this life is really a rehearsal for eternity. That can be easy to allow to slip one's mind.

We can get so concerned about doing things right in this life we might just forget that we have times when it is just practice. Now for the person who doesn't think in terms of eternity, they make thing of now as all you have.

Which can make it hard to focus on knowing a mistake in this life will not mean we can never have a second chance. In the eternal there is always a chance for healing and time to get things right.

That truly is a source of hope for some of us. As long as we savor where it leads and don't get caught in not even rehearsing at all.

There are no times when not trying is the perfect solution.