What Difference It Makes

A casual observer would have thought, “Now there is a woman who needs a life.”  New Year’s Eve: My husband, in the midst of his busiest season at the college bookstore (and having shoveled for three hours on the college’s holiday snow crew) was in bed at 9:00 and I was watching half a season of “Murder, She Wrote” reruns and crocheting a scarf.

But I really do have a life.  And in the midst of smiling at Angela Landsbury and making up a scarf pattern as I went along, I was considering this question: “What difference does it make that I am a Christian as yet another year begins?”

Fireworks rang out very close by as the year changed—Wyatt reports that he was awakened by our backyard neighbors putting on quite a lovely display, and I could hear the uninhibited cheers that accompanied the popping and the colors.  Hurrah, 2010.

A different set of celebrations was bookending my New Year’s eve. I was musing about a wedding where a new teacher took large jars of water and made from it the richest of wine.  And I thought of the vision of a time to come where God, having wiped away all tears, announces, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev. 21:5)

What difference does it make that I am a Christian as this new year begins?  I, along with my brothers and sisters throughout time and space, have been drawn into a story of re-creation, where we are profoundly loved by a God who makes small things, like a wedding party, richer; and is making large things, like “all things,” new.  His arm is strong, and he will NOT let us go. And this gives me the courage and hope to celebrate the coming of a new year. 

I no longer possess the natural optimism of the cashier who looked at me with determination and said, “2010 is going to be a GOOD year.  Let’s hope the economy continues to get better.” Neither am I a cynic who has concluded that nothing will ever change—although I am old enough to sympathize with the impulse.

I am, rather, a woman gratefully drawn into the story of a God who would not and will not abandon his broken creation, and who continues to pour the new wine of courage, strength and hope into his people as we press in and press on—until that day when all things are fully made new.   Come, Lord Jesus. 

And that is cause for rejoicing.  Happy New Year.