Second Chances

July 15th, 2022

Do Christians believe in Second Chances?

Do you believe in Second Chances? This month I’m highlighting some Christian themes in my new book: Revelation in the Roots: Emerald Isle.

Who is looking for a second chance in my novel? Well, mainly you’ll find members of the Magnificent and Marvelous (the MAMs) Book Club’s group homes seeking to turn over a new leaf. Reagan, a white nurse in recovery got hooked on opioids after a bad traffic accident. She stole drugs from the hospital where she worked to support her habit. When caught, she lost her job and got sent to rehab for three months. And another character is Welby, an African-American, went to prison for five years after being pulled over for a traffic stop, with drugs in his glove compartment.

As the book begins, Reagan arrives at the MAMs recovery group home for women: the FARM (Farming and Restoring with the MAMs). Welby moves into the MAMs Sun Power House  for men in recovery where they learn to install solar panels.  

I think it’s very important to give people a second chance, and even more. As I read Jesus’ teachings, he sets the bar very high on forgiveness and second chances. He tells us to forgive not once, but 70 times 7. (Matthew 18:15-20) When a woman is caught in adultery and the people want to stone her, he suggests whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. (John 8: 1-11) In other words, we all sin. We all need mercy.

When I visited the Big Island of Hawaii several years ago, I was impressed with the Place of Refuge, now a tourist site, it once provided a place of restoration for those who made mistakes, committed crimes or what we might call sin. If they visited the site, and swam in they could be absolved of their wrongdoing. They were cleansed and could return home with a clean slate and a second chance to begin again.

In what ways do we provide second chances for people in our society? When they have served time in prison, do we really give them a second chance, or do we stigmatize them with labels that make it difficult to change? If someone has a history of drug abuse or alcoholism, do we encourage them to heal and welcome them into our churches?

Much of the rhetoric of “getting tough on crime” is touted by Christian groups that perhaps have forgotten the message of the gospel. How do we build second chances? Are our churches at the forefront of welcoming those in recovery and re-entry? If not, how can we all get more involved in this work?

Read my book (Revelation in the Roots: Emerald Isle)    to see the miracles that can happen when we provide second chances.

And let me know your thoughts on second chances!.