It was the first day of fifth grade! There was a new kid in class, and the girls were abuzz. I guess you could say that James was a nice-looking kid, but mostly it was because he was just…well…something new to look at. My buddies and I didn’t take too well to him. I recall having a meeting with Mrs. Lucas, our teacher, because it somehow came to light that the other guys were not accepting James. Among the numerous reasons given for not liking him was that, as one of my friends explained, “He says he is faster than Scott!” I was the undisputed fastest runner in the 5th grade, and everybody knew it. It bordered on heresy to declare such a thing! Over time, I ended up accepting James’s challenge to race, and as I recall, the entire 5th grade turned out for the year’s most anticipated after-school event. I beat him pretty handily. James turned out to be full of a lot of hot air. And after a while, the girls seemed to cool on him. Within a month of the new school year, the newness of James faded like our blue jeans, and he fell into the ranks of commoners in Westover Elementary School’s history.

When the Eagles sang and released “New Kid In Town” years later, James is who came back to mind. They sang:

“There’s talk on the street, it’s there to remind you
Doesn’t really matter which side you’re on
You’re walking away and they’re talking behind you
They will never forget you ’til somebody new comes along”

I am reminded of how many times I have read of famous people who come up with a “New Way” of looking at life, its meaning, the purpose of life, or the existence of God. It’s almost as if they want to come up with a newer, easier, more hip way of finding answers to the most significant questions for mankind. They pontificate and seem so deep in their philosophy. They go on about how they have found answers by meditating on the universe or communing with some abstract power that requires nothing and really gives nothing back in return. It seems that people are always looking for the “new kid in town” to court. It is just so hip!

As for me, I have faith and love for the kid who has been around for thousands of years, whose track record is proven. He has run the race, he has conquered the foe for me. His face is familiar. His name is Jesus. He is my Savior. I don’t need “a new kid” in my town to worship!