a fresh start

Have you ever heard of “do-overs?” Any self-respecting child that has ever played games with other children (or adults) knows exactly what I’m talking about. The do-over is the savior of many ill-fated children all over the world, an “easy button” if you will. When things don’t go the way we like, it is always easier to try again...to get another chance.

I was pondering recently the tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Generally, most Americans tend to be a bit pessimistic (ok, a lot pessimistic). New Year’s seems to be the only time of the year that most Americans are optimistic. Suddenly with the advent of a new year, it is like we get a huge do-over- a chance to redeem our failures and set goals for the next twelve months. Thinking about all of this reminds me of a song by Five Iron Frenzy called “New Years Eve.” Here are a few lines from it:

“It's New Years Eve and I'm full of empty promises,
I half pretend to keep this time, just like last year...
And then with thunderous praise and lofty adoration,
a second passes by, yet nothing changes...
A year goes by and I'm staring at my watch again,
and I dig deep this time, for something greater than I've ever been,
life to ancient wineskins. And I was blind but now I see.”

In 2006, let us not just make idle resolutions- let’s set real goals we can accomplish. Goals that have eternal results. Goals like pleasing God with our lives, loving others, being more generous, laughing more, or enjoying God’s creation. Instead of cry out for a “do-over” let us do something fresh and new. Let’s let go of the past that we often keep in a death-grip and embrace the present keeping an eye out for the future. Happy New Year!