What is New in '22?

Now and then I make the mistake of asking my hospice patients what is new with them. In general, nothing is new with a person who is in their final months or days. Now and then they may receive a visitor or gift. But typically, their reply to what is new is “not much.” Something was new with a lady I visit who is 103. For the first time, she held out her hand so that I could hold it. I did so for quite a while. Later, she made a fist with that same hand and waved it as if to say it was time for me to go. I will never know what she was thinking but I did not stick around too long after that.

I did know what my wife was thinking when I surprised her with an early Christmas gift. Some men buy their wives expensive jewelry or electronics for Christmas. Because my wife means so much to me, I wanted to get her something extra special for her gift this year. I got her a shower curtain. It had a red bow on it.

Now before you react negatively to such a gift, you should know that it was medium weight with metal grommets. It had magnets at the bottom hem. The story behind it is that she never wanted glass shower doors when we built our house over 20 years ago. I grew up with doors and she with curtains. She agreed reluctantly to the doors. They became hard to get clean, so a few weeks ago I asked a friend from our church if he could sneak in before Christmas to take out the doors and nicely fill in the holes. He agreed. I installed the tension bar and premium shower curtain myself. I know you are impressed! For the record, she got other gifts as well. Her shower curtain looks great and made her happy. It did not change our lives or outlook for next year.

As the old year winds down, many are once again saying “good riddance” to another challenging year. Talk of masks, variants and deaths have dominated our world. With a new year approaching, we again look ahead with hopefulness. It is out with the old and in with the new.

We all know that putting up a new calendar does not really change who we are or what is happening around us. People will gather at Times Square (count me out) or at parties around the world to count down the arrival of 2022. For many, it is a traditional excuse to have a bit too much to drink. Others genuinely see a new year as a chance to make resolutions and changes. They want certain things to be new as they get a fresh start.

It is wise to be realistic about the upcoming year and the fact that some things will not change. The Bible will still be a source of truth and strength. God will remain on the throne. January and February will be cold in Western Pennsylvania. Folks will talk about the weather. Coronavirus will still be in the news. There will be natural disasters that cause death and destruction. People with addictions and bad habits will continue to struggle. There will be violence in the cities and rural areas alike. Taxes will be due in April. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be terrible. The election cycle means voting in November. What could go wrong?

However, some things will be new. Businesses will be opened. Roads will be paved. New ice creams and soft drink flavors will be introduced. Advances in technology and vehicles will continue to astound people as our world continues to change in so many ways. Songs and movies will be released. New babies will arrive and their precious lives will be celebrated. Perhaps new protections for the unborn will become law. You will undoubtedly meet people for the first time and perhaps make new friends. Maybe people of faith will find new ways to help others and represent the Lord as long as He gives them breath.

We should certainly desire to serve God when we realize that He has made us new. We just celebrated Jesus’ birthday. He came so that we might have life and have it to the full or in abundance (John 10:10). This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun (2 Cor. 5:17)! It would be a good resolution or goal to remind oneself each day that Jesus has provided salvation. He makes us a new person with a new life. We should not take that transformation for granted, even if it was many years ago. He has given us life that lasts long beyond this earthly existence. That new life and promise of eternal life should be seen as a gift. It should also motivate us to be the ambassador for Christ that we are called to be in our dark world (2 Cor. 5:20).

And as we think of a new year, remember that one day there will be no years or calendars. John gave us a little taste of our future. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev. 21:1-2). When the day comes that we dwell with God the old order of things will have passed away. That is much better than an old year passing. John continues, He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true (5).” Like all the words of the Bible, we can count on what is written being true. The fact that God is in the business of making people new should remind us in 2022 to never give up on people. God can change them. He wants us to pray and allow Him to use us in the lives of others. That is nothing new.

As I close, I want to welcome the new columnist who will share this page with me on alternating weeks. I wish her well and hope you will continue to read these articles, no matter who writes them. I wish you a holy new year! Let us see what new things God wants to do in the lives of those who love Him!