I dare say that we all like fresh starts. We like a clean slate, a limitless horizon of possibilities.
It starts early, too. I see it in my kids. We have crayons scattered all over our house. They’re old, sometimes broken, and scattered. I find them in the couch, under the carpet, behind the bookcase, and sometimes even in the shower! By the way, who “colors” in the shower?
Many if not most Americans are very time conscious people. We keep track of time on watches, cell phones, wall clocks, table clocks, business signage, television sets, and computer screens. We set alarms to wake us up and remind us of approaching meetings. We not only notice, but sometimes even take offense, when our friends and associates are late to get-togethers and meetings. If we wait too long in the ATM or fast-food line, we get edgy and irritable.
Growing up, I (maybe like you) enjoyed playing street hockey in the winter. After school, my buddies and I would meet at our friend Jimmy's house. He lived on an almost dead-end street. With only a few cars passing by each hour, it was the perfect setting for a bunch of wannabe Wayne Gretzkys, Gilbert Perraults, and Mario Lemieuxs to battle for an imaginary Stanley Cup.
As we continue our study in Galatians, consider this gem from Martin Luther's Commentary on Galatians (with some editorial emphasis from me):