A Look Back on 2020, A Look Forward to 2021

Between the celebration of Christ's birth on Christmas Day and the entrance of a new year, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is such a hopeful time of year. With a pandemic that virtually no living person has ever experienced, multiple tragic events that highlighted some of our country's most darkest moments, and a presidential race that presented quite frankly the most divisive and most un-American interactions between fellow Americans, I would be lying if I said that this transition into a new year feels as joyous and hopeful as years past.

With this said, I do sit here on the first Sunday of 2021, still hopeful and joyful in another year to make an impact on this world. I firmly believe that the only reason I am still hopeful and joyful after the challenges of 2020 is because Christ has not left my side. He still has a purpose for me, my family, and you! Just as our experience with our daughter spending the first week of her life in 2018 in the Cook Children's NICU, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

2020 certainly was hard on the spirit, but there were definitely examples of where the Lord was close. I know I am missing many, but John McIntosh's servant leadership and Miranda Swartz' s journey are 2 examples that stand out in my mind, where the Lord showed up through His people in the most challenging of times in 2020.

One morning around Easter, I messaged John to see if there was any candy left from what was collected for an event our church was having. I was requesting it because we were running short for an Easter event that we were having for the kids at my work. He had informed me that there was not, but out of kindness, offered to go pick up some candy from the store and bring it to the house. As if this was not memorable enough, what was most memorable was that John could have gotten some other things done before he did this, and brought the candy when he got a chance that day, and his servant heart still would have shined, but he bought the candy and had it delivered within an hour after I first messaged him. That is someone who exhibits Christ's love through value of his fellow man. This was only the tip of what he and our church did for the community, when everything was going into panic mode. Many of the leaders at our church showed Christ's love, by doing small favors for those around the community, whether they were members or not.

The other shining example that I observed of the Lord showing up was through Miranda's story (she is a former co-worker). Her daughter was born extremely premature and spent much of the first part of the year in the NICU. Miranda and her husband courageously shared their story and their faith through Facebook, and it was extremely one of the more inspiring stories I saw this past year. Miranda and her husband's daughter was able to go home and is now bringing joy to their family, and those who know them.

God does not just give us things like happy and joy that we consume as our "daily bread." He also gives us some of the stuff that we may not be asking for or stuff that may make us a little uncomfortable, to teach us lessons that equip us to become more effective disciples.

Some of the lessons that I learned in 2020:

- Mission statements are not just a must for businesses, they are a must for people. They allow us to narrow in on what is most important and where we want to go, so when we have a hard decision, we will be able to ask ourselves, "which of these gets me closer to my mission?" Having a mission statement helps us simplify what makes us unique and what we have to offer to others. Having a mission statement also helps us persevere through tedious tasks, if we can see that those tasks are equipping us towards our mission.

- Christ over culture. While I have always tried to live life with the "WWJD" mantra, I have not valued the importance of assertively seeing the world through a Biblical perspective as much as I did after the events of this past year. We cannot sit back and allow culture to encroach on our lives and slowly influence how we look at God's Word. We must actively seek God's Word before culture is even brought into the picture and then interact with culture based on our study of God's Word.

- In Person Church is Essential: If I am honest, I am someone that has undervalued the importance of attending church in person, as long as you are able to continue watching sermons online and making sure you stay in touch with your church family through life groups and events during the week. However, not being able to attend church during the lockdown showed me that there is nothing that matches being in the sanctuary with your church family. Nothing matches being in the same room as your pastor as he is teaching God's Word.. Nothing matches being able to feel the warm hug and the firm handshake of your church family. Nothing matches being able to look at your brothers and sisters in the eye, and to sense the fellowship that is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

With these lessons learned, I am entering into 2021 with a mission statement, "To grow in a relationship with Christ, to lead a family that honors Christ, and to use servant leadership to help others find their purpose in Christ.

Under this mission, these are my goals for 2021:

- Attend 75% of church services in 2021

- Engage in a service role at the church

- Wake up at 6:00am at least 4 weekday mornings, to spend time in God's Word, time with my daughter before she goes to daycare, and 1-2 hours on personal and ministry responsibilities

- Transition work schedule into one that allows me to leave work by 6:30pm at least 4 days out of each work week.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Please don't hesitate to reach out if any of you need someone to listen to, or pray for, you.