For New Year’s Eve, why don’t we all get noise-makers and little horns and stand outside and ring in the new with giddy enthusiasm and joy? We are more than ready, aren’t we? The gift of a New Year! Thanks be to God!

I know that for some months more, we know not how many, it will feel like “same-old, same-old” as we work together to beat back the virus. At the same time, we know different. We know a lot more about this virus than we did ten months ago. We know a lot more about ourselves, about our courage and resiliency. We know a lot more about the strength we draw from God and from one another. We know a lot more about how precious life is and how deeply we are knit together in one fabric of life and love.

We are dreaming now of new possibilities. We are dreaming of a world made new, of hope restored. We commit to loving more widely and deeply. We are determined to live into God’s new future with hope and joy.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” (Titus 2:11). The grace of God has appeared bringing healing, wholeness, safety, deliverance, assurance and restoration. Here’s to a New Year! Life made new. Community made whole. The future being born here and now.

Thanks be to God!