Anew

A few days before Christmas I was out caroling with a group of people from church. I’m not a big public singer (something many appreciate) but the opportunities surrounding the adventure were far greater than my lack of vocal talent. At one of our last stops, the moon began to rise above the horizon—a full moon rising behind us—and mid-song, I redirected the attention of one of the children with our group. As she turned around I told her I was sorry for interrupting her singing but that the view wouldn’t last very long. She said, “You mean it’ll look different in a minute? And the clouds too?”

“Yep, and it’ll never look exactly as it does right now ever again.”

We are poised to close the door on 2021, and many people are content with that chapter coming to an end.  On New Year’s day the world will celebrate the beginning of 2022, a new year full of opportunity.  I don’t have a favorite year.  There isn’t one that just dominates my memory as the best of all.  Each year of my life so far has had its own unique set of challenges and successes.  Even if there were one specific year that would rise to the top, I highly doubt I would want 2022 to be just like it.  I like the idea of that blank slate—tabula rosa—fresh new year full of potential and possibility.  I like not knowing all that is in store for me to experience and that by suppressing my own expectations, the “unknown” is likely to be pleasantly surprising.  

Every minute of life is a new one.  We have this amazing blessing to be able to choose how we approach each hour and each day.  As time passes we can cherish the past and worry about the future but we should allow nothing to distract us from the present…or we may miss the greatness of right now.  

Two thousand years ago people desperately longed for a new Kingdom, God’s Kingdom here on earth…God’s Kingdom instead of their own.  There was great concern and worry surrounding the future, some deeply missed days long passed, and few loved the way things were presently.  When Nicodemus, a representative of many, approached Jesus with this, His response was this:

“Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.””  ‭‭John‬ ‭3:3‬ ‭CEB‬‬

It is now two thousand years later and we still long for God’s Kingdom.  If we cannot see it then we are looking the wrong way.  We can hold the past too tightly and we can worry about the future but neither will get us closer to Kingdom Come.  To see God’s kingdom we need to seek renewal, letting go of our expectations and also our hesitations.  

God’s Kingdom is now, it is the best present.  

Let go and open your eyes and receive that for which your soul longs.