2020, too!

Romans 8:28-31 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ... If God is for us, who can be against us?”

2020, too.

Yes. I am sure you all have seen the memes. It’s hard to believe that as we enter into a “new year,” COVID still seems to be in control of our lives, and consuming our thoughts. Of course the notion of a fresh start seems enthralling…rejuvenating. Perhaps that is why we celebrate Jan 1 so hard. But the harsh reality is that time is simply a continuum. There are no starts and stops. We don’t always like to face that notion because it puts the onus on ourselves. The truth of the matter is, at any point of any given day we can make a decision to start anew. Then it becomes perspective…we have the power to, at any given moment, change. To switch directions and change our attitudes and mindset. We don’t have to wait for a new year….or a new job…or a new relationship. We can start right here and right now by making a difference. As believers, having this awareness about time unlocks the understanding that every day is a gift from God. Every breath is a gift. While our time here on earth does have a beginning and an end—God does not, and thank God for that! And when we know Christ, we can know eternity.

COVID has been nagging…it reminds us of our limitations…of what we can’t do…of time lost…of all the bad things. But. When we shift our perspective and flip the script, it reminds us that yes we do have limitations—but it also reminds me of a time of great growth. We were forced to grow outside of our comfort zones. We were forced to spend time with our family. Forced to learn new ways to go about our work. Forced to be more conscientious and to think of others more.

...2020 wasn’t great…but it wasn’t so bad after all.

By the way, you know who doesn’t have limitations? Our God! He gives us boundaries because He loves us, but He moves without limitations. When we place our trust in Him all things will work together for our good. For the record, that doesn’t mean we sit back and let life happen to us—we have to roll up our sleeves and be willing to go to battle and be an open vessel for Him to flow through! This means we have to be outside of our comfort zones.

Nothing grows in a comfort zone. Seeds need to be planted in the dirt which is in the dark. They need breaking and fertilization. Let the dirt do the work. Hard times and hard things are the catalyst to what pushes us forward. Most of you may have heard the story about Moses and the Red Sea. I’ve heard it 100 times over, but it wasn’t until recently that I heard a different angle on the story. Here is the setting: The people were being led out of Egypt (from slavery/being mistreated) on one of the longest routes to the Promised Land. There were routes that were much shorter, but they were, for some reason, on this longer route that led them to the Red Sea. Imagine going out of your way only to hit a dead end. A body of water. Impossible. At this point, they’ve had it—they go to turn back and there is the Egyptian Army nipping at their heels. They turn back to the sea and it’s parted. Their only option now was to go through it—what was the catalyst? The Egyptian Army. If it weren’t for the Egyptian Army, they would not have gone through the sea. They needed the Egyptian Army to push them through. We need enemies—hard times—to push us through. They also needed the sea—they needed to take the long route to get to the sea to conquer their enemy. The Red Seas closed behind them and swallowed up their enemy. This story also resonates with me in that it reveals our human nature does—The people were faced with what seemed to be an impossible task, so they were going back to their enslavement…to what they knew…their comfort zone. It’s amazing how often we do this. I think “2020, too” is reminding us to not go back to our comfort zone. Don’t go back to the 2019s where you took things for granted. Remember that it is your attitude that defines if it is a setBACK or a setUP.

While the start of 2022 has been a little unsettling, I am reminded of how much I’ve grown as a person through the last two years. When we look with great anticipation at what the possibilities are, we begin to form hope, vision, and imagination. As mentioned, I’ve been battling some health issues, one of which is a torn shoulder. As many of you know, I am an avid hiker, volleyball player, and adventure enthusiast. This has put a damper on my spirit as I face the gloom of surgery. I finally am biting the bullet and getting the surgery that will not only eliminate the daily pain that I feel, but will get me back to doing the things that I love. But I have to endure the longer route—the months of rehab…of sitting still….being patient…and letting the dirt do its work. It will be worth it. I have taken the appropriate time to process and grieve, but now I look forward to this growth period. I will be stretched and challenged in every way, but will be better for it in the end. What is your Egyptian Army? What Is your Red Sea? Look at your situations in a new light. Sometimes the glass shatters…but new angles and perspectives come with the broken pieces. You may just look at things from a whole new viewpoint. Don’t miss the beauty in the breaking. Remember, Christ broke His body so that we may have eternal life. He gave us a whole new perspective of our loving and gracious Father. We are beautiful in our brokenness. Embrace it, for it is how Christ enters in our hearts.

Here we come “2020, too!”