A New Year

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

COVID-19, protests, elections, Zoom, masks, sanitizer, quarantine, social distancing, Black Lives Matter, essential workers.

As we enter a new year many want to forget 2020. It has been a difficult year where loss - of loved ones, finances, activities - was a prominent fixture. Issues and images of injustices that have long plagued us took center stage while we - some for the first time - were forced to sit still enough to truly absorb them.

In our desire to leave it all behind and return to "normal", we risk misunderstanding the Christmas angels' song of "Peace on Earth". We want a calm respite, but this peace isn't quiet, or neat - babies cry and make messes, after all. The baby born in a stable came to challenge systems, reallocate power, and lift up the lowly. The peace He still longs to bring is glimpsed and felt only as we release our hold on the things we think we control, as we give to others what we want for ourselves, and as we choose to shine the Light in the darkest of places. We ride into 2021 with 2020 in our rear-view, but be assured that it's hitched to us like a trailer - not as a burden, but as a mission. The causes and concerns of the past year have positioned us to walk in alignment with the life and ministry of the

Prince of Peace. May we not grow weary.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:37-40)