The year 2020 has more haters than Nickelback. That’s no easy feat. Yes, it has been a rough year, and this “year” has gotten blamed for much. However, without a reset in our personal mindsets, 2021 will be no better… and the truth is; 2020 is not a total loss.
Now, before I go further, I first want to stress that I am not diminishing or disrespecting those who have lost their lives or have lost loved ones during 2020 (or any year for that matter). I suspect that we all personally know someone who either passed due to covid, or are perhaps just one degree of separation from one or more.
However, does anyone think that, when the ball drops and we transition from 2020 to 2021, everything bad from 2020 will be cast away and a fresh new year will magically make everything better? COVID will still be a thing. Celebrities will still die. Tragedy will still be with us. Sad, but true.
The good news, your fresh new year can start at any time you want. It could be right now, in fact. Or it could be on January 1. It might be April 25 (aka, “The Perfect Date”). Whenever it is, you have the power to decide.
So l’s focus in on the lessons and good things that have resulted from 2020.
Getting Back to What’s Important
The most obvious benefit of 2020 is the forcing to revisit and remember our priorities. That is health and welfare for most. It’s family and serving others for many. Some got an enormous charge out of defending personal rights. With less attention on sports, entertainment, and other “extras” we have historically enjoyed, perhaps we’ve even discovered new passions or driving components of worldviews that will leave us forever changed. Whether or not that change is for the better is up to you.
Coming Together to Fight Common Enemy
As divisive as it might have seemed to be, COVID brought us together. Many people made personal sacrifices, the likes of which have not been seen since WWII. Some gave stockpiles of food to those in need, many put sewing skills to use for making and giving away masks, organizations partnered and collaborated to develop and implement plans to better serve constituents. I pray this spirit is long lasting in our lives and that our youngest generations are forever filling with a desire to serve their fellow man, woman, and child.
New Advancements in Tech
Raise your hand if your church did virtual worship before the pandemic. If your hand is raised, you were in a minority and now are one of millions. Tech forced churches out of their buildings (which I still contend is a VERY good thing) and many churches adapted to new ways of reaching God’s world. Similarly, many businesses have discovered they really can support and be successful with some or all their teams working remotely. This proficiency is now central to our churches and workplaces. It may just usher in a new and more effective way of doing both individual work and God’s work as disciples.
We learned to pivot
My generation was among the first to be what is commonly called “latchkey kids.” We were also largely deemed to be “slackers” (but we’re not bitter). It’s because we were released from school with a key around our necks or in fake rocks in our landscaping to let ourselves inside our homes. We got our own snacks, watched some tv and many of us even did homework. The utopian view is that this was due to households with two working parents. And that is true for many, but for just as many, it is because we were being raised by single parents.
We were lonely and forced to be grown ups much sooner than we probably should have. So we went to extremes with our own kids, becoming helicopter parents and doing everything for our kids. I would posit that this is why there is a “coach” for everything now, but I digress. Perhaps this is a defining moment for the newest of our generations. Just maybe, this will be the generation that can balance work and play, youthful whimsy and adulthood. This year, we have all had to be resilient and familiar with adapting to change. These things will serve us well for many years to come.
Stress and Strife Provokes Strength
We grow through stress and strain. Of course, 2020 has offered up no shortage of either. And while this wears on us, we are stronger for having endured it. Like trees, we actually need struggle to grow, survive and prosper.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. -I Peter 5:10 ESV
What will 2021 bring?
So what can we expect for 2021? I hate to say it, but we don’t know. We can talk about vaccines, new governments, economic growth, etc. But we should know by now that we must always expect the unexpected.
Our mindset is so important to both weathering storms and in celebrating the rainbows that follow. Gleaned from the lessons of this year, it means remembering what’s most important, uniting to help others, striving for progress, adapting to change, and growing as persons.
Lessons from the Minor Prophets
Two of my favorite verses are from the minor prophets, Zecchariah and Joel. I think they are quite appropriate as we conclude 2020 and may be reflecting (or stewing) on things we might have missed out on or sacrificed.
In Zechariah, he says…
“And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.” – Zechariah 3:10 NLT
Sacrifices take place every year. In 2020, we probably had to make more than typical. One of the most significant sacrifices that had to happen, though, was in our personal relationships. It was a challenge to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Special occasions may have felt less special. Weddings have been delayed or cancelled. There will come a day, my beloved, when we are able to safely and confidently join together sans Zoom. And on that day, we will break bread in humble gratitude.
Joel offers a similar sentiment in saying that…
The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. – Joel 2:25 NLT
Those sacrifices we made in 2020 are the beginning of a promise. When an outside terror delivered by the Lord descends upon us to swarm, hop, strip and cut (perhaps deeply), there is devastation. The fulfillment of that promise, though, is a complete and amazing restoration. All for the Glory of God.
Until then, beloved, in 2021 and beyond, let us focus our wills on Refining life, on purpose.