The Grand Opening

One thing about living in a small town, any thing new is big news.  And that is doubly true when the new thing is a new business opening up.  When a new business opens there is that period of time when it seems to be the topic on everyone's lips.  For example, a new store just opened up in town.  There was the time when we saw construction and wondered what it was all about.  Then rumors start flying about what it might actually be.  Then the discussions of the impact of this new business on the community, how many will it employ and whose business will it cut into.

And I know that these same conversations happen in the city, but not about EVERY business that opens.  In a small town it is a bit different.  That one new business represents a significant increase in the total number of businesses in the area.  Or think about it like this, you are going out to eat and there is literally ONE restaurant in a 20 mile radius where you have never eaten.  It grabs your attention.

And then there is the Grand Opening.  People show up to check it out and the reviews start pouring in. Well, maybe not pouring, more of a drizzle that slowly soaks the community.   Bur the word definitely gets out, and then the real work begins.

Lately I have been thinking about the entrepreneurs that open these new businesses.  They invest  a lot of them selves financially, professionally and personally on a particular enterprise.  The Grand Opening is both a culmination of all that went into its creation and also a beginning of this future endeavor.  After the ribbon is cut, there is still much to do.  They have a significant investment in this business, but also there are now employees and parts of the community that depend on them, so there is also a great responsibility that they have assumed.

Some places may have another Grand Opening after a major change, a Grand Re-Opening.  They have remodeled of made major changes to the menu or there is new management or a new product line.  The re-Opening is like a fresh start.  It says that we are different now, so check us out.  

As a teacher, the beginning of each school year feels like a Grand Re-Opening.  We get a fresh start.  Everything is set up and ready to go.  There is great anticipation and a sense of responsibility to make the most out of the year to come.

As Christians God created a Grand Re-Opening in our lives.  There was a time when we allowed God in to do a major remodel and then we received a fresh start "Under New Management."  And for many of us, this happens more than once.  As Christians, we go through seasons and each one can begin with another fresh start or re-opening just like the start of a school year.

And just like the opening of a business the blessing comes with responsibility.  We have been given a fresh start so we are responsible to let others see how that fresh start affects our lives.  As we have experienced the love of God, we need to let the world around us see it in our lives.

In the video today, Pastor Chris talks about the blessings and responsibility of the Israelite in the Holy Land.

As Christians we have been given the great blessing of a fresh start.  It is our responsiblity to then make the most of it.