The flyer reads kalendari i shfaqjeve Tetor-Dhjetor 2006. It is the fall program for the Operas Baletit, the Opera House of Tirana. We were told before we came to Albania that the performances in the opera house were very often, very good, and very cheap. So, for the first time in my 62 years I attended a ballet last night. Nancy, Susan and I sprung for the best seats in the Opera House, the $5 ones, and spent from 7 pm to 9 pm enjoying the music of Sheherezade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and that of Sergei Rachmaninoff in Paganini. The first had a story line that was plainly presented in the ballet, while the dancing in the second seemed to be interpreting the music alone, with no story line.

The opera house itself was mid-size, slightly worn but not shabby. It occupies one part of the building in the accompanying photo. The musical presentation was by an excellent 60 piece orchestra, and the dancing was choreographed by Skender Selimi, obviously a well known artist. I must confess that my preconceptions of ballet were not completely positive. And I also confess that a few times I thought some of the movements were a little silly. But I also must confess that I thoroughly enjoyed both presentations, and that my preconceptions were wrong.

In any case, when I am asked what things I learned and experienced in Albania, I am not sure that many people would expect the answer to include Rachmaninoff and Rimsky-Korsakov. I am certain that before I arrived I would not have expected to give that answer. And this highlights something pretty important—that our preconceptions of things are often (usually??) unconnected to their reality. That is true of ballets and countries and places—and it is true of people as well. We form opinions based on little or no data, often on first impressions or misinformation coming from others, and those opinions become our realities—realities that do not change easily but that are often wrong.

I think that is why so many people in Jesus' time rejected him. They had their minds made up about the Messiah and his mission long before he came, and because of that when he came they did not recognize him. As the prophet anticipated, they had eyes to see, but did not see, and ears to hear, but did not hear (Isaiah 6:9-10).

I also think that this is the case for many today. When we read about the failure of first century Jewish leaders we are quick to criticize, but could that criticism itself be our stereotyping? Could it be that their attitude was much closer to what ours would have been given the same situation? Or could it even be that their attitude is closer to the attitude of many today, including some within the church? Could it be that many have their minds made up about Jesus not by an encounter with Jesus himself or his words, but by preconceptions or stereotypes or cultural expectations?

The point is obvious--Let's try not to be like that...Let's try not to form our opinions about people or places or Jesus in the wrong way. Let's go out of our way to listen to what people actually say and to get to know first hand what they are actually like. And let's do the same with Jesus...That is what his Word is for—and it is there for the looking!

Oh, and if you visit in the next two months I will be sure that we attend Ballo Me Maska (Verdi), Soiree Schumann , or Cosi Fan tutte (Mozart). All are coming soon and the price is right.

Oh, also, I hope to have a real treat for tomorrow's blog--a very interesting person who lays claim to a note in Guiness' Book of World Records...We'll see.