Out With The Old; In With The New.

The Conservatives have decided. They don’t want Boris Johnson as their leader. Deciding that one man should go is easy.

There are 8 candidates to replace him. Deciding the best candidate to replace Mr Johnson in an unknown future is a harder decision…  

Out with the old, in with the new.

Ricky and Carl spent yesterday with us. They stripped out our utility room; cupboards, sink, tiling… all is now gone. They then started fitting new units in our empty kitchen.

Deciding that the old can be improved on isn’t difficult; removing the old, broken, unwanted and outdated doesn’t take long. Deciding what should replace it requires time and care – and there’s a cost.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Yesterday… Kim talked about her ill-health – her physical problems, their causes, the medical treatment required, possible hospital visits… Al described broken relationships with his son, his son’s mother, his son’s step father… David spoke of unhappiness and frustrations at work and clearer thoughts of retirement.

In each case decisions have to be made… determined action to get rid of the old, unwanted, damaged… careful thought about the new that should replace the old… a willingness to pay the cost.

Out with the old, in with the new.

The whole Biblical narrative is about replacing the old and damaged with new and perfect… and the cost involved. Sometimes it’s an evolving process – slavery to freedom, wilderness to Promised Land, defeat and exile to joyful homecoming; on other occasions it’s instant transformation – sickness to healing, estrangement to restored relationship, lies to truth, death to life…

Musing… Isaiah:

‘Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourself clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow…’ (1:15-17)  

Out with the old, in with the new… the conservatives… our kitchen… Kim, Al, David… my ongoing intent.