There is something wonderful about a “do over”. My guess is that everyone is familiar with the concept. The “do over” is a part of every childhood. Growing up, whenever there was a disagreement, division, or controversy over a game or activity, someone would call a “do over”. The idea was universally accepted. You wiped the slate clean and started again. You were not bound by the past. You could move beyond the division. The “do over” provided a way to something new, reconciling, and better. The “do over” felt right.
As a culture, the “do over” has been incorporated in our celebration of New Year. With the New Year, we give ourselves permission to wipe the slate clean. We say goodbye to the old and open ourselves to something new. Saying goodbye to 2017 will not be difficult. The past year was not an easy one and was filled with disagreements, division, and controversy. We hope the New Year will be a better one. As people of faith, we do more than simply hope. Our hope is bound to a promise, the promise of God.
With God, we are very familiar with the concept of a “do over”. The concept is at the heart of the Gospel. We are not bound by our past. We can move beyond our failures, struggles, and disappointments. God’s grace forgives us and sets us free to live a new life in Christ. That gift is not limited to once a year, but is given each and every day. Each day, by God’s grace, is a “do over”. God’s grace opens us to something new, reconciling, and better. And with that grace, we can make hope happen. We can work in the world to make something new, reconciling, and better for others. As people, graced by God, may we live out our “do over” is Christ and bring hope in the New Year.
Peace,
Pastor Summer
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