Coming out of a year plagued with fear, (the Covid virus ran rampant worldwide) daily uncertainty, (what happened to all the toilet paper?) and painful losses (loved ones, jobs, school events and businesses) has a lot of us wishing we had amnesia.
We long for those 2020 memories to vanish. Permanently consigned to Never Never Land with zero chance of restoration! We hope this virus will finish its course soon…very soon…like Sars, Ebola, Swine Flu and all those other ugly viruses.
We yearn to begin 2021 with a positive outlook and get back on track with something called normal.
Right now, Confusion and Controversy reign. Science and facts are adjusted and quoted by all sides desperate to sway our point of view. We’re blown hither and yon. All the yakety-yak feels like a cyclone ripping through our minds scattering common sense and adding more chaos. We’re desperate to locate pieces that will fit into our big picture puzzle called Normal Life.
And yet…in the midst of all the negative debris …many Good and Noble and Lovely things rose up to meet the challenges of confusion and controversy. We are resilient! Exhibitions of over the top caring and going the extra mile emerged. Communities rallied pulling together eager to help businesses stay open. Families no longer took for granted time spent together. Many of us re-prioritized our agendas.
EVERYONE is counting on 2021 to lift us out of the shambles of our emaciated society.
However…there is no guarantee 2021 will be better. (Sorry) Life has never been about certainty. History attests to the inevitability of erratic and unpredictable events that change lives forever. Not just events that happen in our personal lives…like the death of a beloved or job loss or a divorce. Our culture experiences war, natural disasters and violence that change us as a people, that shape our thought processes as a culture.
Our hearts ache for certainty, for security. We look to our government for help. We depend on our like-minded friends and our families as our safe harbor as we navigate tumultuous waters. And, yet…we know instinctively that this is only a partial solution.
Personally, 2020 was NOT the worst year of my life. NOT even close. In 1978 after our beloved young son was killed I was distraught…ravaged with grief so overwhelming I wasn’t sure I could go on. And, in 2017, after the love of my life died my heart once again shattered into a million pieces. The years in between those tragic events were abundant with miraculous blessings along with many roller coaster years.
All along though, my spirit has known what words can’t describe… I KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW my God holds me in His Strong and Mighty arms! I am like that babe in the photo…I can rest. I am protected. I am loved. I have an ASSURANCE!
I am ASSURED THAT NOTHING—"neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord!” (Paraphrase of Romans 8:38-39)
With so great an assurance, I’m delighted to step forward into the journey of 2021!
I pray you will also know that Blessed Assurance and go into 2021 with a heart full of anticipation!
I’d love to hear from you…share your thoughts and concerns…let’s have a cuppa tea and talk!
Kate
I didn't know you had a blog. I LOVE this Kate and I love you!