It ’ s the old “ prophet is never welcomed in his hometown ” proverb Jesus talked about in Luke 4:24 .
The 1912 presidential race featured a threecandidate contest that captivated the world ’ s attention . Woodrow Wilson defeated both Republican incumbent Howard Taft and former President Teddy Roosevelt , who broke from the Republicans and formed a third party . Wilson became the first Democrat president in 20 years and the first Southerner to hold the office since the Civil War . Wilson ’ s presidency would encompass a world war and change world history . As Wilson tied up loose ends before his inauguration , he visited an aging aunt . In the course of their conversation , Aunt Janie said , “ Well , what are you doing now ?”
He answered , “ I ’ ve been elected president , Aunt Janie .” She replied , “ President of what ?”
I love that story . Has something like that ever happened to you ? The person Aunt Janie thinks you are will stick with her for life . Optics will always be with us . And so will the naysayers and the people who underestimate us . Every day of our lives , for the rest of our lives . ( Super uplifting thought , right ?) Optics is present in relationships , at school , in our workplaces . Social media just hypes it up even more .
Today ’ s message is clear : how you look and how you are perceived actually determine who you are .
46