The Blank Slate

New Year’s Eve, for much of American society (it seems), provides an opportunity, the venue (dare I say an excuse?) to take one particular aspect of their life – and commit to making a change for the better. It may be a physical change such as exercising, dieting, or being better attentive to one’s health conditions. Maybe it’s an attitudinal change that one seeks, and so we see the commitments to be nicer, to love more, to embody thankfulness and appreciation. There are innumerable New Year’s Resolutions that people take on each year.

Why do we choose the coming new year to embark on these life changing endeavors? There is something of a mystique to the coming of January 1, beyond that sense of pride when we correctly write the new year’s date on our checks. There’s something about the newness, the freshness, that sense of a clean slate on which we might write anew some small aspect of our lives. What newness, what fresh outlooks will you write in; what old habits, what outdated attitudes will you write out of this coming year?

But by saying ‘small aspect’ I certainly do not impart any lack of significance. For simply recognizing the gift this opportunity is (to be and do better) carries great significance. It signifies that the ‘who’ we have been does not define the ‘who’ we are to become. Upon that blank slate, upon which you may write in that new sense of who you are – who are you becoming? What criteria will we utilize in determining who we should become?

Whatever the rational for the desired change, whatever the criteria for who the ‘new me’ should be, the coming New Year provides both the motive and the opportunity, and there is safety in numbers to set out and try something new: ‘everybody’s doing it.’ But no sooner do we get started in fulfilling these ‘New Year Resolutions’ that the stark realities set in: as ‘everyone’ was beginning them – so ‘everyone’ is breaking them – and feeling resigned to live out the rest of the year thinking “Next year, I’ll do better.”

But, that attitude does not accurately reflect life in the Body of Christ, the Church. Because, we need not wait until a change of the calendar to step back into that mode of living for the New Life, we need not put off until the next major date change to consider how Life could be better, and we certainly don’t need to live the next 11 months with the burden of what we were incapable of completing.

We live, moment to moment, 24/7/365 trusting the grace of God to pick us up from our mis-steps, dust us off, and send us back out to live into Life – with the simple admonition – ‘Be faithful with what you’ve been given.’ So, what will you do with the blank slate you’ve been blessed with in this new year? In this new month? In this new moment? What acts and attitudes of faithfulness will you inscribe into this New Life God is creating you for?

Blessings and Peace be yours in all this gift of New Life affords for you.

Rev. Mike