This week, a conversation with a friend led me to this question:

Do we really believe that people can change?

Here’s why I ask this question.

Several months ago, our local newspaper published this article about a man trying to run for political office. His name was removed from the ballet. The reason? He committed a felony when he was a juvenile….in 1966.

He has no other convictions. He served a 6 year prison sentence, and he has been a productive citizen since.

Now, this is interesting to me, because don’t we love stories and movies where someone has a life that’s a mess and then rises to become something better than they were?

Is this only a value that embrace in fiction?

With the beginning of the next presidential race taking on steam, we will no doubt be inundated with stories of candidates past failings.

Pundits will dredge up these details as proof that we should not trust someone now.

Sure we don’t want to brush over the past (there could be some real muck in there still), but I have to think that a person’s past should be held in light of the context of who they are now (especially when the past is 45 years ago).

For my part, I am always impressed by stories of redemption and recovery that led to new changed life.  They are the people I want to listen to, they are the people I would follow.

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• « clear minded & self-controlled
• » post consumer christianity

• BROWSE / IN while i'm thinking about it
• « clear minded & self-controlled
• » post consumer christianity