When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. -Luke 5:11

I wonder what James, John, and Simon felt when Jesus called them to follow him. What went through their minds? Were they excited about this new thing? Guilty about leaving their old jobs as fishers? Nervous about being underprepared? Curious about Jesus and his message? Maybe James was only going along because his brother John seemed so gung-ho. I wonder if Peter felt a whole bunch of different things at once, a little worried and a little hopeful and a little cautious and a little confused. 

Starting something new usually comes with a lot of feelings. Fear, eagerness, wonder, discomfort, joy, hope– all these and more can come with something new. But there’s another feeling that often comes up when an invitation is made to do something new, a kind of combination of self-doubt and denial that sounds like this: “I can’t be the one this invitation is meant for. I’m stuck. I can’t do a new thing.” Ever felt that way?

If you have, you’re not alone. Lots of people feel stuck for all sorts of reasons. More than stuck, we can feel trapped: by habits, schedules, relationships, expectations, jobs, debt, disease, addictions, commitments, grudges, past mistakes, current events… you get it. Starting something new can feel daunting. Becoming something new, even more so.

Almost at the very end of the Bible, there is a vision of God declaring “See, I am making all things new.” (Rev. 21:5) Notice that God doesn’t say, “Look, everything is changing,” or “Pay attention, so you can fix things up,” or “Here’s a list of things you need to make new.” God is the actor, the force that makes “all things” new. It’s not up to you or me to renew ourselves. It’s all about God.

Often, when God intends to renew us, God does invite us to start something new. For the disciples, it was really clear: “Follow me! Leave behind your nets and boats so you can come my way. I’m doing something new.” When Jesus calls us these days, it tends to be a bit less direct. The Holy Spirit works in many ways: through a friend’s invitation, in an idea that just won’t go away, in an opportunity that comes up at just the right moment, in a word or phrase from the Bible that captures our attention, in a stranger’s plea for help, in the longing in our hearts to fix what’s broken in the world.

The change in seasons is a good opportunity to notice if God has called you to start a new thing. Lots of things are starting up; at church, that includes bell choir and Bible study. We have a whole ministry fair dedicated to groups and activities that might be your “new thing.” We already have three new Sunday School teachers signed up to help teach kids about God, and I am so grateful for their willingness to do a new thing! 

What new is God doing with you? Could it be that God is working to renew you by nudging you away from your comfort zone into a new thing? Are you listening to Jesus’ call?