It is unwise to put too much weight on a first impression.
A couple we know met through the internet. Today, Paul and Jen have been happily married for years, but their relationship was almost uprooted before it could even sprout.
The culprit was Paul's jump to a faulty conclusion at the end of their first date.
They had had a pleasant meal together, but as they walked to the restaurant's parking lot, Jen asked Paul, "So ... what kind of car do you drive?"
This was a test. Jen had dated her share of shallow men who - given half a chance - could talk endlessly about their fancy vehicles. Now she considered car talk a deal breaker. Paul was checking all the right boxes so far, so she wanted to make sure he wasn't one of those guys.
Paul, who drove an unimpressive, old beater of a car, concluded from Jen's question, "This is not the girl for me." He was afraid to even show her what he was driving.
He had heard Jen's words as something like "I am very superficial and materialistic, and I am looking for a boyfriend with a sports car. Have you got one?"
An interpretation 180 degrees in the wrong direction.
It was only by God's grace that there was a second date.
No comments:
Post a Comment