2020: A Memorable Year!

                        
                                 2020

                                   2020
                         An unprecedented year,

                         Fighting an invisible enemy,

                         Filling hearts and minds with fear.

                         A world-wide epidemic

                         We’ve never seen the like.

                         Quarantined in our homes,

                         Waiting for victim numbers to spike.

                         Where is the Lord in this?

                         We wonder in our homes.

                         Is it punishment for sin

                         That has been allowed so freely to roam?

                         Or is it some kind of warning

                         Coming from above,

                         Asking us to see the Light

                         In His mercy and His love?

                         As the world is forced to slow

                         And stop its feverish pace,

                         Maybe we’re given this time

                         To reflect on our human race.

                         For we’re all in this together

                         As throughout the globe it's spread.

                         And we wonder in its wake

                         How many will be left for dead.

                         And yet, isn’t there another enemy

                         That we fight within our core?

                         One that kills eternally…

                         Another invisible war?

                         But it’s a war already won.

                         So we can rest and trust.

                         Our God came to save us.

                         He is still merciful and just.

                         For if we have 20/20 vision

                         With which to see the Light -

                         That the battle has been won,

                         We don’t have to fight the fight.

                         We can know that no matter 
                              what befalls us

                         In this 2020 year,

                         If we have eyes to see we’re saved,

                         We can move forward with no fear.

                         We can encourage one another

                         And stay connected with those for 
                               whom we care.

                         And with the unfortunate who are 
                               impacted more

                         We can reach out to them and share.

                          We can be thankful for our homes

                          Where we can rest and wait.

                          For those who know Our Savior

                          Can place in His loving hands our fate.

                    

Don't know about you all, but the is what the rest of my March 2020 calendar looks like - it went from busy days with lots of things filled in - to totally blank.
So many plans interfered with - weddings, trips, graduations, not to mention work and the plans for the economy to keep rolling that we all just expected  - until this abrupt STOP!

I only seem to blog anymore when something hits me and I actually have time to stop and reflect on it.  Obviously, even in retirement, I don't take time to reflect often beyond my morning quiet time. And those of you that know me, know when I reflect deeply, it usually turns to rhyme!  There's something about poetry that captures a snippet of time or a concept in a short form, allowing you to see the main points of it.  Well, I may not want to remember this point in time, but here goes... Who knows how many calendar pages it will affect,  or how many it will throw into financial disaster, personal grief, or just plain depression from staying home.

Personally, the teacher in me feels like it is a snow day - a gift to stop the rat race and slow down.  I love how our church has reached out and encouraged us to stay in touch with our small groups and loved ones. I've loved having time to connect with people I don't always get to in the hustle bustle of life.

Thank the Lord for technology that enables us to do this.  I got to Zoom into an online bible class on Tuesday and hope our small group will meet virtually to pray.  I've already shared prayer requests with our small group by email.  And I did go for a walk with neighbors - even though we walked in a large triangle instead of next to each other - and of course we did without the customary hugs.

I love how teachers are planning virtual lessons, and bus drivers plan on dropping off lunches for kids, and people are checking with shut ins.  Yes, this 2020 year will be remembered - when the
newscasters start referring to prayer as in the case of 9/11 or school shootings, you know we're up against something bigger than we are.

So yes, I'm looking at the bright side, wondering if God hasn't slowed down our lives for our families to reconnect, for mom's to teach their own kids, for friends to have time to talk rather than rushing to some event, and even perhaps for them to have time to think of what hand God may be playing in this. But, of coure it's only the first week.  And I realize there is going to be much heartache - lost income, lost loved ones, loss of memories that should have been happy ones.  Still we are told in Roman's 8:28 that "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord," somehow, someway, even if it isn't comfortable.  Yes, all things, even this.   For that quote from Rick Warren - that "God cares more about our character than our comfort" is surely true.  He'll do anything to get our attention when it has become fixed on the world instead of Him.  Maybe that's what He's doing.

I'm offering this poem in the light of making the most of it, having a good perspective - and giving you something to watch excepts more germs and talking heads on tv.  May God protect anyone reading this during this time.