I have heard a lot of talk from people on social media, sometimes in person, but mostly on social media. They say things like this:

• If 2020 were a Hula-Hoop it be made out of barbed wire. (While funny it is quite brutal.)

• I can’t wait till 2020 is over.

• Is 2020 over yet?

You can hear the desperation to be past this year already. While I’ll agree that 2020 has been a very difficult year. I cannot help but see how 2020 has pressed us outside of a comfort zone that we had sat in for a long time. 2020 has brought many lessons and insights that I don’t think that I would want to skip in my lifetime just to get out of going through this year. Here are some of the things I have noticed:

• We have learned that social media has way too much power and time sucking ability in our lives.
• We learned alot of people do not have the mental and emotional backbone to handle prolonged difficulty.
• We learned that we rush into this and that and don’t have enough quiet space in our lives.
• We learned that many are jacked up on adrenoline most the time and being made to slow down had them going through a detox and reset to a slower pace.
• We learned that family really is the most important thing to us.
• We learned that doing everything the experts say and trying to be safe can not fill us like having our family close in hard times.
• We learned that offending people on purpose with our opinions doesn’t change their minds. Hopefully we as Christians are learning that to offend people on purpose outside of the offense of the gospel is fruitless and a waste of time. We might even say it is a far greater offense to our Father in heaven, for the opportunity to walk in pride is abundant. Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote in Romans 12:18 if possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Which to be honest grates across our American freedom of speech attitudes. There is a time for opinion, especially opinions that may be divisive, and that is in the context of it being asked for.

While 2020 certainly hasn’t been desirable. It has yeilded a massive opportunity for reflection, self-restraint, and objectivity. Without reflection we are doomed to make the same mistakes as we move forward into the next season. Without self-restrain we run headlong into everything without thinking and that is a dangerous place to be. Without objectivity our personal bias go unchecked and we end up with hearts unchanged on the other side of difficulty and will certainly experience a “round the mountain” experience.

Here is a simple tool to help just to do a little reflection:

• What’s right?
• What’s wrong?
• What’s missing?
• What’s confusing?
• Name the challenges you are facing?

The scripture says in Proverbs 29:18 without vision the people perish…

I hope that as you take the time to evaluate that you also find among the answers God’s voice and leading.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla