Will the New Year be New?

New is such an intriguing word. There are two different concepts reflected in the new testament translated with the word "new." One has the idea of renewal or revision -- the idea that something previous has been changed to make it different than it previously was. The idea here is like the King James Version being made the New King James Version; or the Revised Standard Version becoming the New Revised Standard Version.

The other concept of newness implies something brand new, never done before -- unlike any other. I suppose the New International Version may suffice as an example here. Because there wasn't an "International Version" prior to its publication. It was a new translation of Scripture in the sense that it was intentionally unique from previous versions.

Now I say all that as I'm parsing the words "Happy New Year!" I'm wondering what sort of year may be signified by new. Certainly I expect this one will have twelve months, and 365 days, unless Jesus returns before we get to the end of it. Yet hope propels most of us to long for some sense of improvement, of upgrade, in the "new" year. We'd like to think this year will be new, as opposed to 2009, which is now "old," I suppose.

This desire prompts many to make resolutions. Usually these resolutions have to do with trying to progress toward some longed for aim -- to get in better shape, lose weight, learn, drop a habit, read, or a host of other ambitions. I'm tempted to resolve to blog in 2010. Its a discipline that I was motivated to do for months in 2009. But as hope for the new year waned, so did the impetus to continue to write. My daughter reminded me that there's no such thing as writer's block, only fear or laziness. Yep, guilty as charged.

Last Sunday when I preached on waiting (ironically, a message postponed a week by snow), I observed that 2009 seemed to be a year that involved waiting for a lot of people I know. I'm one of them, though I didn't share that sentiment publicly. Despite that, its hardly a secret among those who know me more than casually. The Survivor runaround last year made me feel I was going in circles. And ironically, the year ended in a similar fashion in which it ended -- with hope.

As I write, I'm five minutes from leaving for Passion 2010. I'm eager to see what God has in store for me there. And I hope to record what I can of it. Someday I may even share this blog with others, who knows?