Is there such a thing as too much change? If so, YIKES, 2020 has been a year of many changes. I'm not just talking about COVID-19 either. Personally, life has been packed with changes since the beginning of the year.
In January, my younger brother left for basic training. So did one of my good friends. It hit hard. My family was missing an extra person in our home: a mom and dad missing their son, a sister missing her brother. Our church was missing two of its members, musicians, friends.
In March, we found out that school would have to shut down temporarily because of COVID. At first, it wasn't bad because they said it would only be for one month. I viewed it as an extended Spring Break (at first).
In April, the governor stated we were cancelling school for the rest of the year. That is not what any teacher, especially their first year, expected or wanted to hear. Thus began the journey of teaching online/virtually/remotely (whatever you want to call it).
In May, the only way teachers got to say their final goodbyes was with a parade. Thank God for it. We finally got some much needed closure, although the coming school year could hold many potential changes.
These are only the changes that occurred in my life this year. This is not including the people who were unable to afford the luxury of working from home. This doesn't include the people who lost their jobs during COVID or maybe even lost a loved one. This doesn't include the health care workers afraid to go into work every day. This doesn't include the stay at home mom who was trying to homeschool her three children while worrying about her husband who is an essential worker. But these changes occurred too. The changes we all experienced were personal and significant to us. We have no way of knowing all of the changes that have taken place just since this year began, but there are many.
Our world is always changing, but sometimes it seems like there is too much change. It can be overwhelming. From a broader perspective, changes include the way we teach, provide health care, conduct worship services, travel, and go to the grocery store. It isn't uncommon to see people wearing masks and gloves, pumping hand sanitizer, and wiping things down like their lives depend on it...because we're afraid maybe they do. Fear is still a huge contributor to the chaos we have experienced in 2020.
I'm not sure how you feel about it, but I hate change. Always have. Just because I don't like change doesn't mean it won't happen. However, not all changes are bad. Yes, some of the ones I listed so far have been terrible. Despite the circumstances we have all endured, there is a silver lining if we would just look for it.
The first positive change to come from 2020 is outreach. The church has pretty much been forced outside of its comfort zone. We reached out on platforms we hadn't considered using before we found ourselves in quarantine. Scroll through Facebook and you will be able to tune in to church services around the world. Blogs, books, and songs have been written during this time. We have been connecting and/or reconnecting with people we haven't talked to in a long time. The church had to realize we are not a building, but a people. This is why we can have church in our living rooms, bedrooms, and in our cars.
This brings me to the second positive outcome I have observed in 2020: People are seeking Jesus more than ever before and establishing a relationship with Him. We have had plenty of time on our hands to pray and read our Bibles. We have had ample opportunities to go to church, whether in person or online. We haven't had a million excuses as we have been confined to our homes with less on our plates. We've had our time cards renewed so that we could get back to where we need to be spiritually. God didn't leave us when COVID came. In fact, He proved Himself by being there through every moment. The best change you can experience is when you allow Jesus to change you from the inside out.
Another positive change in 2020 is that it has changed our perspective. People are becoming more thankful for what they have. Gratitude and kindness are flourishing. I have watched as people passed out meals, delivered items to families in need, sent mail to encourage each other, and organized drive-by's just to say hi to friends and family. What a wonderful change. (That's not to say we don't have a long way to go in our society, especially in light of recent events/tragedies.) There is still cruelty in our world. I hope and pray this changes for the better, but for now, let's stay focused on the changes we have seen.
CHANGE: one simple word that holds both positive and negative connotations. It's all about your perspective. No one truly enjoys change, yet here we are, facing changes day by day. We have to learn how to make the most of it, adapt to it, and to embrace the change. God might not change our circumstances, but He can change our perspective.
Thankfully, there is one thing that will never change: GOD IS GOOD. If you find yourself struggling with all the changes we have seen in 2020, lift up your head and see that God is still in control. He still sits on the throne.
With His help, you will be able to embrace the change, come what may.