Make Way for the New

You may remember the Peanuts comic where Lucy and Charlie Brown are practicing football. Every time Lucy held the ball, Charlie tried to kick it, and every time she pulled it away, sending him flat on his back.

In one strip, Charlie finally refused to try. Lucy begged him. He said, “Every time I try, you pull the ball away.” She wept, admitting, “Charlie Brown, I’ve been terrible to you all these years. I’ve played so many cruel tricks, 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 was moved. “Of course I’ll give you another chance.” He backed up, ran full speed, and at the last minute Lucy pulled the ball away again. Charlie hit the ground. Lucy’s last words: “Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!”

It’s true, isn’t it? Wanting things to change and actually changing are two different things.

In the gospels, Jesus continually calls us to let go, repent, turn away from the old ways. And in return he promises restored relationships, deeper joy, and new life.

Are there things in your life you need to let go of to make room for healing, renewal, or God’s new work? What concrete steps could you take today?

Hebrews 12 says, “…let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race set before us, looking to Jesus…”

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

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