Always a fresh start

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us through Christ.” -2 Corinthians 5

I love celebrating the New Year! I bet you do, too. Who can resist lifting up the promise of a fresh start, a new beginning? Most everybody around the world, in every culture enjoys this. January 1 is one of many dates for the new year. While most in western culture celebrate on the first official day of the Gregorian calendar, there are many New Year celebrations around the world. For example, Chinese New Year is February 10, 2024. Every year the changing date falls between Jan. 21 - Feb. 21, depending on when the new moon of the first lunar month falls. Some in my extended family celebrate New Year’s twice- once on January 1 and also on Persian New Year which is March 19, 2024 at 10:06PM. This marks the exact moment of the vernal equinox, the instant when the sun crosses the Earth’s equator, and day and night are of equal length. Many celebrate the New Year more than once.

Through my eyes of faith, multiple dates for a new year symbolize something wonderful. They remind me I have multiple chances to become new. A brand new year presents a new beginning. It means another chance to try again, a clean slate. In his book, The Great North American Road Trip, writer Aaron Lauritsen says, “There is strange comfort in knowing that no matter what happens today, the sun will rise again tomorrow.” That’s not only true for a cross-country road trip, but for our everyday lives. God knows we need more than just one day every year to become new, we need a fresh start every day. That is why God not only offers us a lifetime of fresh starts through the love of Jesus Christ-but God is already at work making us new even before we know we need to be! St. Paul says, “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away, see I am making all things new!” Know that 2024 offers official new year dates on January 1, February 10, and March 19. But especially keep in mind God’s promise to you- you’ve already been made new every day. Have a wonderful beginning today!