Make Way for the New

You may remember the Peanuts comic strip where Lucy and Charlie Brown are practicing football. Every time Lucy held the ball for Charlie, he would approach to kick with all his might. At the last second, Lucy would pick up the ball and Charlie would fall flat on his back.

There was one comic that opened with Lucy holding the ball and Charlie Brown refusing to kick. Lucy begged him to kick it. But Charlie Brown said, “Every time I try to kick the ball, you remove it and I fall on my back.” They went back and forth for the longest time and finally, Lucy broke down in tears and admitted, “Charlie Brown, I’ve been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football as I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I’ve seen the error of my ways! I’ve been wrong, so wrong. Won’t you give a poor penitent girl another chance?”

Charlie Brown was moved by her display of grief and responded, “Of course, I’ll give you another chance.” He stepped back as she held the ball, and ran full speed ahead. At the last minute, Lucy picked up the ball, and yet once again Charlie Brown fell flat on his back. Lucy’s last words are, “Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!”

It’s true, isn’t it? Recognizing our desire for things to be different and actually doing anything about it are two different things. In the Gospels, Jesus continually calls us to let go, turn away, renounce, repent, and leave behind the old ways. But, he promises in return, restored relationships, deeper joy, and new life.

Are there things in your life that you need to change or let go of in order to make way for healing or renewal? Are there things in your life that you need to change or let go of in order to make room for God to do something new? Are there concrete steps you can take today?

In the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, we read: “…let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…”

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Let us pray using part of Psalm 51: Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Do not allow us to be far from your presence. Do not remove your Holy Spirit from us. Restore us to the joy of your salvation and grant us a willing spirit to sustain us. Through Jesus Christ, our Sustainer and Redeemer. Amen.