Today is Pesach Sheni, a second Pesach. Today God gives a second opportunity for those who were unable to bring the Pesach offering the first time round. This opportunity came about because the Jewish people who were unable at the time of the Exodus, asked for another chance to bring the offering. If they hadn’t asked they may never have been given Pesach Sheni.
Second chances are a dangerous concept, it is almost like saying I can do it wrong the first time because I know that I am going to have another chance.
As much as some claim to not work well under pressure, when we are not under pressure we find it hard to get things done. A second chance takes away the pressure, and makes everything more relaxed. Is that really what we want? Are we supposed to need a second chance? Will we always be given one?
In the story of Pesach Sheni we find the concept of second chance but it was not given as a freebie, it was earned through us showing that we really wanted another go. God is willing to give us a second chance if we really want it but we have to realise that there are many situations in life which are really one chance only.
For example, there is no such thing as using your experiences to go through life again. Part of life is growing up as children and learning from our experiences as we go along, making mistakes and using them to grow. There are instances where we have opportunities to undo the past but they don’t come often.
Second chances are not always given and when they are we have to make the most of them. It is available, it is never too late, but it is not available that easily.
And as we know, the best way for us to receive a second chance from God is to make sure we are emulating that characteristic and giving our friends and family members a second chance too. We all make mistakes, we all say things we don’t mean to. Before we ask God for a second chance let’s make sure we are giving chance to others too.
