The beginning of a new year means different things to different people.
Some of us make lists of goals or resolutions with the best intention to complete each item in a timely manner. Others pretty much ignore the day.
Neither attitude nor approach is right or wrong. They’re just different.
All of which got me to ponder the idea of “new”. In the most basic of terms, the Merriam-Webster dictionary describes new as recently born, built, or created. There is a lot packed within those few words. At the same time, each point to the concept of ‘new existence.’
Recently born . . . new baby, New Year, new day, and so forth. On the other hand, what about a new idea, a new marriage, a new job? These kinds of ‘new’ are born out of the belief for the yet undiscovered possibilities wrapped in one’s hopes, desires, and dreams.
Recently built . . . new home, new recipe, new toy. Fresh off the shelf or the showroom floor, the newly built is often an invitation to start afresh with something you will make your own. While others may build the physical structure, you are the one who will add, subtract, or tweak in ways unique to your personality.
Recently created . . . new portrait, new book, new business, new relationship. Most will not dispute we have been endowed with a healthy curiosity. A desire to discover new things. A penchant for giving space to our inner writer, poet, seamstress, or chef. Of great importance—our hope that new connections with new people will draw the best from us, as well as provide an opportunity to receive from and be blessed by others.
It seems to me that if we choose to concentrate on our energy and focus on the span of one New Year day, we might be giving short-shrift to all the rest of the “new” that God may have in store for us.
It is true that the new can throw us for a loop. We may resist mightily any action by the Divine to peel our fingers and thoughts from our fear of change. In our humanness we want to know what is around the next corner.
Nonetheless, as Christians we have a multitude of promises from the Lord to journey on in faith and trust. One my favorites:
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not;
See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the wilderness I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. [Isaiah 43:18-19]
As 2022 begins to unfold, maybe one of the question we need to ponder with God is this: “Lord, what new thing are you doing and how do you want me to be part of it?”
