Real New Year begins with Advent

December 3, 2008

No, the anesthesia from my surgery hasn’t affected my ability to read a calendar. This week IS the TRUE new year for Christians. The Christian calendar, based on the life of Jesus, begins anew the first Sunday of Advent. So this week, we are already into a new That’s not what we are used to. That’s not when all the “Happy New Year” party hats and streamers are in the store (trust me, trying to find Happy New Year party things for Children’s Time in November is almost impossible!) Of course, your neighbors and co-workers would think you were crazy if you said Happy New Year to them this week. And many – even in the church – turn their noses up at the idea that Advent is, truly, the beginning of the new year. But I am thrilled that the church does something different from the culture. At the times when the church and the culture are look-alikes, (far too often the case) that’s the very time that the church is unfaithful to its mission and Savior. I think it is fine if you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31 and New Year’s Day on January 1. But the celebrations on those days should be small in comparison to the REAL celebration of heart that begins with the Advent season. It is not only right – it is absolutely ESSENTIAL to our well-being – that our sense of time come from the life of Christ, not a calendar. That calendar will change the date. But Christ can change the heart. The calendar will change whether you want the change or not. Christ will change you with your invitation, your willingness and your cooperation. The calendar year doesn’t need your cooperation or invitation. It’s coming no matter what. But the change of heart that can make this a truly new year is found in Christ. The real celebration of our lives each year should be the Christian new year. I guess I haven’t thought ahead enough this year to make it a campaign. Maybe I’ll be more than recuperating next year and invite us ahead of time to plan for a big party when Advent rolls around. But it’s never too late to celebrate the extraordinary gift of new life that Christ brings. And all through Advent, we can remind each other that the calendar of Christ’s life takes priority over the calendar of months. So say “Happy New Year” to all this Advent! You’ll be giving a witness that your mind and heart marks time in Christ. And, if people don’t get the witness, they’ll just think you’re so together that you’re ahead of everyone else. As a matter of fact, those who are grounded in Christ ARE ahead – ahead in ways that no to-do lists can show. This year, let the church guide us into making Christ the foundation of our life. Let everything else keep time around that first and foremost reality.