Just like that another year is almost over and we’re heading towards 2021.
I think we can all agree that we are looking forward to the end of 2020, but a little nervous about what’s to come in 2021. I remember on New Year’s Eve feeling a sense of excitement about what a new year could hold. New years often symbolize a blank slate a new opportunity to grow, learn, and love. We had plans for trips such as a trip to Chicago, a city we’d been hoping to visit for a while. One of my closest friends was getting married this year and we were looking forward to attending the wedding. We had plans to visit loved ones down south like we try to do at least once or twice a year. We had plans for things we were hoping for.
Yet this year forced all of us to look inwardly, address with things we may not have thought of addressing on a public scale, and realize that perhaps there’s still a lot of work to be done. We’ve all experienced loss of something, longing, anxiety, and fear.
Personally, a lot has happened behind the scenes and I’m sure that’s been the case for many of you. This year has had many hard moments as well as many joyous ones. We’ve all experienced simultaneous grief and joy. We’ve said to each other on a number of occasions this year that God’s really been a source of strength for us during some hard moments and that we couldn’t imagine processing what we’ve processed this year without Him. We are so thankful for Him and for each other.
Yet here we are again looking towards an uncertain future, unsure of 2021 will bring.
Some of us are afraid of sharing a “word of the year” or planning too much out of fear of what’s to come. A lot of us hope that as the ball drops at midnight, marking the end of one year and the beginning of another that things will automatically improve. Our nation will be more compassionate towards one another and that normalcy will return. Yet the uncertainty keeps us walking narrowly along the line of fear and hopefulness.
I think we’re all hoping that things will hopefully get back to normal and that this year will be the last holiday we spend isolated from family.
There are things that personally we’re hoping and really praying will happen in 2021. Things we hope to accomplish and things we’re hoping to see. Moments we’re hoping to share and experience. Things we’ve prayed and longed for. I really pray for these things.
To you reading this, I’m not sure what you’re hoping for in the new year or what challenges you’ve faced this year, but I hope that this year brings you so so much joy. The never-ending joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. Moments of peace and happiness where you feel so full, it’s overflowing.
I’m praying for you and for all of us at this upcoming year is tremendously better than the last.
Happy New Year!
