Newness

The year was 1959.  I was 10 years old and had just experienced one of my most memorable years ever.  For we had moved from our home-of-7-1/2-years in Norris, to an older frame house on Dogwood Road in Fountain City.  I guess I was, in hindsight, rather traumatized by the move...leaving my first friends, our church, school...life in a tiny town where we had free-run of the entire community; where we "charged" our groceries at Archer's Market; where we knew everyone and everyone knew us; where it was safe and innocence reigned...to the much larger community just north of Knoxville.

Not that Fountain City was a huge city, by any means.  But it certainly was many times larger than Norris.  As a matter of fact, it was, at the time, the largest unincorporated city in the nation.  It had not yet been annexed by the City of Knoxville.    It was March when we moved, so I was going into a fourth grade class that was nearing the end of the school year.  I went into Shannondale on that cold March morning, not knowing a soul...I'll never forget Mrs Fox, the principal, walking Mother and me down the long hall to Mrs Richardson's room.  I was kind of scared...nervous...anxious.  Mrs Richardson was so nice and welcoming; I soon felt right at home and made many friends who are still my friends!  (We are having our 45th high school reunion this July; I'll see many of them again...53 years after meeting several of them that day in March 1959!)

Yes, that move gave me a taste of "newness" in many ways.  New friends, new neighbors, a new school, a new church, new experiences, a new town where buses ran, with stop lights!, and more than one filling station and restaurant like I was used to!

In the sermon Sunday, our pastor asked, "For what do we pray?"  His answer, in short, was:  for a brand new world...and for a brand new me.  I've thought about this all week...about a new world, a new me.  What changes would I wish for our world?  How would I be different, as a new me? Those are large questions, with many answers.  Here's my view, nutshell version:

- My new world would be peaceful, free of war and strife
- It would be free of drought and famine and disease
- It would be God-centered
- It would be a land where people cared more for each other than being obscessed with selfish desires
- It would have its priorities straight
- It would be void of bigotry and prejudice and meanness
- All children would have the chance to live in good homes with good parents and unlimited opportunities

- A new me would closely follow Jesus
- I would be consistent
- I would be loving and giving always
- Fairness and wisdom and humility would be my benchmarks
- I would witness with my life and actions
- I would put others first
- I would leave judgment to God and love unconditionally
- I would empty out myself and ask God to fill me with His Spirit, moment by moment, day by day

Yes, as we talk about newness...may we pray for a brand new world and a brand new me.  "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much."  Multiply one person's prayer by millions and millions and just think what we might experience!  Something new to look forward to for sure! Oh God, may it be so...and let it begin with me.