Familiarity doesn’t always breed contempt. It just breeds... well, familiarity. One time when driving down Michigan Avenue in Dunedin, Florida, where we lived from 1986 to 1991, I noticed a barn set off from the road on my left. “When did they put that barn there?” I asked myself. Obviously, it had been there all along. I just hadn’t noticed it. I had seen it, but hadn’t made note of it. There is a difference, you know. Familiarity.

Earlier this week, as I walked in to the church office, I noticed the entryway, an entryway I’ve been accessing almost every day for the last thirteen years. It was dark and rather dreary. I suppose the lighting fixtures are straight from the 50's when the building was erected. They certainly look like it. As I walked up the four steps to the office level, aided by a homemade bannister constructed of old pipe with the paint chipping off, I noticed the tables in the hallway holding boxes. Some were empty and others held educational literature, I think. Regardless, it looked junky. There were unused choir chairs lining another part of the hallway under the window. An old school desk was being used for the cups that accompany the water fountain. In the office the conduit which hides (?) our Internet wiring had fallen down from the bulkhead... months ago!

Suddenly it dawned on me. Because of my familiarity with the place, I hadn’t noticed how junky and unkempt it had become. What if I were a visitor and I was seeing all this for the first time? What would my impression be? I didn’t like the answer.

So, we’re sprucing up the place. Bringing all this to the staff’s attention, I said I wanted to begin a fix-up campaign, starting with our office area. To Jim Munns, our minister of music and administration, that’s like offering a bone to a hungry dog. He just loves to move the furniture. One day later he’s already all over it. Good.

That got me to thinking. I know, I know, that’s a dangerous thought in itself, but bear with me. Are there other things in life that could stand some attention? I once preached a sermon entitled, “Reading the Bible as if for the First Time.” What if we did other things as if we were seeing or experiencing them the first time?

• Driving a car
• Kissing your spouse
• Going to a movie
• Grocery shopping
• Listening to a friend (notice I did not say “talking to a friend”)
• Eating a meal with your family or friends
• Walking through your neighborhood and greeting those who share the street with you
• Counting how many smiles you get in one day
• Going to church

You may want to add some things yourself. How refreshing life would be if we tried to experience things as if it were the first time. I’m going to give it a try. How about you?