All Things New

"Behold, I make all things new." 

Revelation 21:5

Well, it's now the second day of the spring semester, meaning I've officially had all my "first" classes. Things on campus are starting to get back into the swing of things, and overall there's a sense of a fresh start.

That's a very attractive idea for a lot of people, for a lot of reasons - a fresh start. A chance for us to look back and realize that, contrary to popular opinion, we're not perfect. We make mistakes. We procrastinate (and I'm definitely not procrastinating right now by writing this). As we say in the Confeitor, "I have greatly sinned...through what I have done, and what I have failed to do." 

That's why so many people make New Years resolutions. As a side note, if you have made a resolution and are still keeping with it, good job! Statistically, over 25% of you will have already "given up" by now.

Either way, that's why we like the idea of "New Years" so much - it's a chance to step back and start fresh. Personally, this week is a great time of change for me. New classes, new schedules and new opportunities - change is on the mind. 

Many people are afraid of change. "Things were good as they were, why did they have to change?" is a common phrase, and dozens of "reinvented wheels" are thrown around whether or not they are, in fact, broken (or in need of fixing). 

We find this aversion to change at every level of society, though. Just over a year ago, many people were fighting against the "new" Roman Missal translation (That was, ironically, reverting back to the older translation), saying the Mass didn't have to change. 

Perhaps I am young and foolish (Correction: I know I am young and foolish) but change isn't something to be afraid of. Right now, I am surrounded by amazing friends (two of which are sitting next to me, pretending to work) that I didn't know just a few short months ago. If it were not for that change that came with graduating and moving away from home, I would have never met them. It is change that brought me to Serra, and change that graduated me from it. It is change that brought me to Saint Francis, and change that brought me to these people. 

More than that, it is change that makes us who we are. Every day, we are becoming more and more of  ourselves.

Change, though, is not the same as chance. It would be wrong to say that I am where I am through a cosmic roll of the dice. Rather, it is the ever-present Spirit of God that moves all of us. In that mindset, it was God that brought me here. It was God that led me to these people. 

"Do not worry beforehand about what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the Holy Spirit." -Mark 13:11

So, we're all experiencing a time of change. Embrace it. "Do not be afraid." Use this as an opportunity to start over. Keep on fighting the good fight. "Resist change and die. Accept change and survive. Cause change and lead." 

Most importantly, take a chance. Don't be afraid of risks. You can't know what great things are in store until you trust God and just let go.