January 2, 2015. As each new year begins, there is in many of us a sense of expectancy, of hope. The epistle lectionary reading for New Years Day is from Revelation 21:1-6a. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth … See the home of God is among mortals, He will dwell with them … He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” New Years Day is a good day to put things in the past that have gnawed at our souls. If there are resolutions, let them be a resolve to live more fully, more graciously in forgiveness. This is the way of the Master, who looks upon us and sees us as we can be, encouraging the potential to come forth. Where there is a temptation to linger in our former greatness, let us take upon ourselves the commitment to forget those things which are behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13) There are new areas into which we can grow. A new year stretches out before us. Let us embrace it in hope as we rest in the embrace of our Creator who is aggressively at his work to make all things new.