Brand New

I bought a pair of brown, leather shoes from the sale rack at Scheel’s last summer. I noticed, at weddings especially, that brown was the new black so I jumped on the bandwagon. I wore them to weddings and other formal occasions. Wore them once or twice a week to work when I needed to visit the hospital or attend a community meeting. Gravel parking lots, playing catch in the grass, and walking the giant dogs took their toll on the shoes. Scratches and scrapes and scuffs appeared. I took them to a cobbler. A few days and a few bucks later, he refinished and repaired and restored them. They were brand new.

I know people, like everyone I’ve ever met, with a few scratches and scrapes and scuffs. I also know a Cobbler, of sorts, who refinishes and repairs and restores. It’s a new year. It’s time to work with the Cobbler and become brand new.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! -2 Corinthians 5:17

Here is an eight-step process to becoming brand new.

1. Listen to your pain.What are the scuffs you can’t live with anymore? What are the scrapes that embarrass you? If you could eliminate one scratch, what scratch is it?
2. Determine your destination. You will not stumble upon restoration accidently. Responding to a few questions can and will lead you to refinishing the masterpiece God created. What does repair look like for you? At the end of 2019, you will be elated when which part or parts of you are brand new?
3. Start where you are.It is impossible to arrive at your destination without knowing where you are starting. Be authentic with yourself. Be real with God. Your journey to brand new can’t start where you used to be or where you want to be. Your journey has to start where your shoes are currently located.
4. Include others.Your healing and improvements will happen best with others. Learn from others. Be inspired by others. Practice vulnerability with others. Ask others to help you make a plan. Tell others about your dream destination and invite them to hold you accountable.
5. Create a strategy. An old axiom exists: When you fail to plan you are planning to fail. The old axiom is still around because it is true.
6. Take steps forward every day. The cobbler didn’t make the shoes brand new in a moment. He restored them in a series of movements. Welcome two best friends into your life: patience and progress.
7. When you mess up—don’t give up—get up. Your restoration will not be easy or without setbacks. Don’t let a little failure or a bad day derail the work of the Cobbler.
8. Re-evaluate and keep refinishing and repairing and restoring.Celebrate little wins along the way. Make necessary adjustments. Keep becoming brand new.

The Water’s Edge will be doing a four-week sermon series on becoming brand new starting Sunday, January 6th. Join us in person on online.