20/11/2013

It was 6.30 in the evening, and 15 million people watched as a BBC journalist was hand-bagged into history. There was John Sergeant, clad in his usual grey rain coat, on the steps of the British Embassy in Paris. He told the nation that Margaret Thatcher had failed to win enough support to stay as Conservative party leader and there must another round of voting. This was not something she would come out and comment on, he said confidently. And with the timing of a well-rehearsed pantomime, the door behind him opened. “Mrs Thatcher is behind you” said Peter Sissons from the studio. As John turned to look, the iron lady tangoed him out of position to address the microphones that had sprung up into shot.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Looking back on those events the BBC’s former chief political correspondent says it was the making of his career. He says he was hardly noticed until his mistake on the evening of this day 23 years ago. He went on to become a household name.

As someone who’s no stranger to making mistakes, I do enjoy hearing stories of success born out of failure. Failures are so rarely tolerated in public life.

I’m thankful that the God I follow is a fan of second chances. The Bible’s full of stories of people who are called to do jobs, who mess up, but then go on to do even greater things. Even St Peter lied three times about knowing Jesus. For him, there was not only forgiveness and restoration, but transformation into something better than before. As one church leader puts it – “God can make a winning hand out of a pair of twos!”

Lord, give me the humility to learn from my bad decisions. Thank you that when we ask you, you give a fresh start after each mistake. Bless our work and make it fruitful, in Jesus’ name, Amen.