Already, But Not Yet

By Sarah Teichmann

New Year’s Eve—we once again are at the doorway of a new year. We stand looking to tomorrow January 1, 2009 with eyes to the future. My yearly planner stops today, but a new one is waiting in the wings with pages filled with meetings, gatherings, and important dates to remember. In some ways we’re already in the New Year—our intentions, our appointments, and our great and grand plans are already written down. But we are not there yet, we are still in 2008—still meeting today’s tasks, intentions, and plans (hopefully some of those plans include a fun and safe New Year’s Eve celebration!)

It is days like this, New Year’s Eve, that I can appreciate the Lutheran theological phrase "already, but not yet". We are already planning and expecting 2009, but we’re not yet there. This is like our walk with God. We walk in faith—living out our lives—experiencing the mountain top joys and comfort as well as the valley shadows of despair and longing. Through it all God’s presence is in the here and now. Living in the here and now we believe in a future—where God’s love and comfort will be total. This future is more certain than any meeting, agenda, or appointment in your datebook, planner, phone, or calendar. We already live in a world looking to that future, but we’re not yet there.

So what do we do in the mean time? I suggest that we follow the wise advice of James Watson’s Scottish poem Auld Lang Syne and look back at our lives. The poem asks the reader if old acquaintances should be forgot, so that memories never come to mind. The poem looks back to the yester year and asks if one should forget the memories from ‘long, long ago.’ Some of these acquaintances and memories include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Should these acquaintances be forgot and never come to mind?

Our friend James Watson suggests drinking a cup of kindness and goodwill and toasting the memories from yester year in the company of friends and loved ones. So lift up a glass of champagne, wine, egg nog, or any other cup of good cheer!

And I would add that while you toast those good, bad, and even ugly memories of days gone by, that your hearts and minds be open to God’s presence in the here and now, and that your eyes of faith be open to the future to God’s eternal promise and comfort.

Happy New Year and may the good news that is Jesus, the Messiah, bring you great joy each day.

Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and always. Amen.