On Watch Night 2019 we had no idea what was in store for us. We couldn't have dreamed that in three short months the world, as we knew it would shut down by a global pandemic and that two years we would still be in the grip of that pandemic. I actually had hoped that we, as the human race, would actually come together to fight it and to take care of each other. I believed that we would finally understand that we were our brothers' and sisters' keeper. But I was wrong. All over the world we have divided into camps of deniers and follow the science, maskers and anti-maskers, vaccinated and antivaxxers, and more conspiracy theories than you can imagine. This is a sad time in the history of the world. I could focus on all of the losses of the last two years, but I choose to do the opposite .
All is not lost. Through it all, God has been faithful. There have been more supports and services to help people get through. And many of us have not just survived, but thrived, during this pandemic. So many of us have used this time to reinvent ourselves and pivot to new ways of staying connected and doing just about anything.
For me, I have learned so much. It was in April of last year that I was asked to use my free Zoom account for a missionary circle to fellowship for about six weeks. We actually believed that we would be back to 'normal' by then. But with the free account, we were limited to 45 minute sessions and those on the telephone could not join in. I was hesitant to pay for an account because I could only see one hour a week for six weeks. But early on a Sunday morning the Holy Spirit whispered, 'you are thinking too small.' It was then that I made the choice to upgrade my account and the rest is history.
As 2020 left and 2021 arrived, we again had high hopes that things would become normal again. And there is a sense of normalcy, a new normal.Things had gotten better but with a new variant, things are gettin worse again. So now as we enter 2022, I wonder what's next. My hope and prayer is that COVID will do the same thing that the 1919 pandemic did; continue to evolve into a plain old flu. Of course I have no proof of this, but I do believe that our God is a God of order and patterns. And my faith tells me that if He could do it 100 years ago without a vaccine, He can do it again today.
So I am entering 2022 with a right now faith and an hope for things to come. I am entering 2022 believing John 14:12 that says that as believers we can do what Jesus did and even greater works than He did. So on this New Year's Eve, this Watch Night. I am watching for a brand new day with brand new opportunities and brand new miracles. Since the restoration of my sight in November (podcast Waltena Pride; My Story) I have been more hopeful than ever.
So it is 2022, now what? None of us really know what will happen next. We as humans really don't have much of a say about what will happen in the coming year. But I know one thing. I will not enter it in fear or depression. I enter it joyfully because I am still here. So many started this year and didn't make it. So I celebrate that my family and I are safe and healthy and here. And right now, that is more than enough.
It's midnight! Happy New Year!