New

Most words in the dictionary will have two, maybe three definitions. The word "new" has upwards of seven or more. We hear this word used in so many contexts. New car (with the new car smell.) New baby. New person. New boyfriend. New moon. New job. New strain of virus. New friend. New house. Turning over a new leaf.

Reading these various uses of the word, we can see the subtle and also considerably different meanings. When you say that you bought a new car, we could assume that you are the first retail buyer ever of the car. If the car is a 2012 model, you might feel compelled to clarify (so as not to mislead) ..."sure, it is last year's model...but... it is still new." If I said that I was moving into a new house or new apartment would you automatically assume that I was the first person to ever occupy the house or apartment? Probably not. New house can mean...different than the last one I occupied. If you were told that a couple had a new baby you wouldn't think it a strange term because you've never heard of "used" babies. New can mean recent as in new friend or new job. Nobody, of course knows the difference between a full moon and a new moon except those geeky people that have "ologist" in their job or hobby title. I'd love a new truck but... a new strain of virus?...uh, not so much.

Had I been contemplating such things at 6:00 am this morning, I would have recognized that today was (and is) a new day. [Warning- going on short tangent here] Why isn't new day one word? We have TOday, YESTERday, SOMEday, FRIday (thank goodness), but we don't have ANYday, NEWday (at least not if being grammatically correct.) Then, to make it even more confusing, we have everyday and every day which have totally different meanings...[END of tangent...sorry]

Back to the new day. The reality is that every day is a "new" day. It's never been seen before (the movie Groundhog Day notwithstanding.) When the day ends at midnight, that day will forever be gone. People my age often speak about the "old days" sometimes preceded by the modifier "good." Not sure exactly the specifics of when those "good old days" were but, they usually are referring to a time in the past when things were perceived as being "better." Some want to hold on to the old days...I understand that sentiment but, I am much more excited about the new days because how can you live in the past? And why would you want to?

The pastor of my church has challenged the congregation to embrace the idea of "A New Day." This Sunday, we will embark on a new Sunday worship schedule that is, in part, intended to allow for better use of our gifts of music, preaching, hospitality and worship. But the newness of that day goes far beyond a schedule change.

When our pastor, Greg speaks of a "new day" one would naturally think about which definition of "new" should apply. Certainly Sunday will be a new day in that it has never occurred before. Saturday will, at that point, be history. Sunday will be new. What is expected to be new about it?

Sometimes we are asked to look and see with new eyes. We are often challenged to embrace and demonstrate a new attitude. Occasionally we hear someone declare that they have turned over a new leaf...become a new person. We know that in each of these things, what we are really talking about is a change of heart. Not to mean that the old heart is not rightly focused...but maybe not the heart that God wants from each of us. My heart is not always in accord with God...in fact, it is frequently a heart focused more on me than Him. Maybe what Greg is talking about is that I need to see with new eyes, hear with new ears, worship with new priority and passion, love others with new vigor, change with new courage, forgive with new compassion...be church with a new heartbeat.

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has been made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV

I wrote a song several years ago. The chorus goes like this: "I want to know the way to... live a life that's brand new... to embrace the One who loves me as I am. I don't want to stay in the place I am today. Lord show me the way...from wilderness to You."

Don't we all really yearn to be "new?" I know I do.

Sunday at First Baptist Augusta

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