T for Tuesday….Rambling!
I might be a bit late to the party with a 2020 year end post. Oh well, a few rambling thoughts anyhow…
- Many of us will complain about all the disruptions to our lives.
- What if God had plans for 2020 all our complaining drowned out?
- For me, 2020 brought a lot of changes.
- It helped me think differently about change. Sometimes outside forces allow circumstances to ripen for change.
- All of 2020’s changes challenged priorities.
- I’ve written about sports. They simply don’t hold the place they did in my life a year ago. I don’t want them to again.
- God also brought opportunity to address lazy patterns with eating, scheduling, passivity, etc.
- Instead, 2020 featured a lot of growth in pro-activity. Sharing the Gospel more. Challenging more. Loving and strategizing more.
- In February I attended e3 101, the class that serves as the orientation for e3 Partners. Their missionary training began by challenging each of us not to try to act as a missionary outside of a close (abiding) relationship with Jesus.
- Without doubt, I can say I am closer to Jesus than at this point a year ago. Praise God for that!
- 2020 made me think about needs in education I wouldn’t have considered in the past. A subpar educational experience for our children brought out my advocate voice.
- I think I could also easily say 2020 brought some people’s true colors to the surface. Some of this comes down on the side of good! Love, sacrifice, and service multiplied in some at very encouraging levels.
- On the other hand, some claiming Christ have revealed their true God.
- How did these circumstances change me? I lost some respect for people, even some leaders. Doesn’t mean I’m done or don’t think they’re Christian anymore, just a little less respect at this point.
- How about gaining respect? I would say the racial tension and response to the death of George Floyd changed me in a sense that I saw people not just protesting, but many truly begin to seek to understand the struggles of African Americans both historically and presently.
- All in all, the year brought me closer to God and others. May that continue in 2021!