Good-Bye 2020.

Good-bye 2020 — this will be my last musing on the lectionary passage for 2020. Time is relentlessly marching on. These days can never be recaptured or re-lived they will remain only in my memories.  

 

2020 will probably go down in history as the year of the pandemic — sadly, an unprecedented number of people lost their lives and more certainly will. Today, the figure stands at 1.76 million with 10,131 of those happening just yesterday on Boxing Day. The number is almost too big to comprehend —1.76 million grieving families this Christmas. 

 

Others have faced differences in the workplace or unemployment, like many, Andy has worked from home most of this year while I have not been able to work at all. 

 

With many others social distancing restrictions have meant isolation from family and friends. A lot of hard times for many.

 

But — and as this is the third day of Christmas, I want to make it a big but — even in a hard year, good things happen. I encourage anyone reading this to think of some of blessings 2020 brought them. 

 

For me, the whole year has reinforced how short our journey on this earth is and how unpredictable life can be. There is no way I can know what tomorrow holds therefore today must be cherished and made to count. 

 

I have heard many times the sentiment “I can’t wait for 2020 to be over”, perhaps it is because I am getting older, but whenever I hear it my thought is don’t rush time — it is too short to be wished away.

 

Even the lectionary passage today seems to be in a rush to another season. It is the story of Peter asking Jesus who will betray him. My first thought is let’s enjoy the birth before rushing to the death! 

 

Yet, the passage also contains an interesting thought for the end of the year. John is writing at the end of the gospel to put right a wrong — to challenge “the rumour spread in the community.” Perhaps, the last few days of 2020 is a perfect time to take stock and see if anything needs putting right before stepping into a new year.

 

So, what other blessings can I rejoice in 2020? I think one of the biggest ones has to be how I have learnt to be grateful for so many things often taken for granted.

 

I am grateful for the advances in technology. Zoom has opened all sorts of new possibilities. In our community it has allowed us to meet face-to-face two or three times a week. I have been able to talk to my mother, children, grandchildren and sisters on a regular basis. 

 

I am grateful for all those people who have gone beyond what is normally expected —nurses, doctors, dentist, educators, shopkeepers, postal workers, factory workers, delivery drivers, and too many others to be mentioned.

 

I am grateful for the people who have worked tirelessly to bring a vaccine. 

 

I am grateful to the myriad of people who worked to bring a fair and successful election this year.

 

I am grateful to be able to go out and walk in our lovely area with our pugs. 

 

So, 2020 has been a memorable year. This week I, with many others, think back over the days and months acknowledging and praying for all those who have suffered loss and are grieving while rejoicing in all the blessings the year has brought. 

 

Perhaps 2020 is summed up best in the immortal words of Charles Dickens:

 

It was the best of times, 

it was the worst of times, 

it was the age of wisdom, 

it was the age of foolishness, 

it was the epoch of belief, 

it was the epoch of incredulity, 

it was the season of Light, 

it was the season of Darkness, 

it was the spring of hope, 

it was the winter of despair.

 

(Tale of Two Cities, p1)

Coming Second

 

Coming Second — as I read the lectionary gospel text for the day (John 1: 6-8, 19-28) that was the phrase that came to mind. I’m not quite sure why I had that particular thought, but it was there in my head and once established stayed firmly there — coming second, coming second, coming second. 

 

Coming second is an experience most people have probably shared. It happens all the time. Coming second in sports competitions, coming second in an interview for a job, coming second in another’s affections, coming second in a school exam, coming second in a card game — a common phrase from childhood was “you can’t be top in everything”. 

 

Andy and I have recently watched the latest series of The Crown depicting the British royal family. Watching it I keep in mind that this is not history, but entertainment and it is a mistake to accept it as factual. Nevertheless, it does show the harm caused to those in the family who by birth order were coming second. 

 

I wonder if somehow the whole of society has been encultured into thinking of life as a huge competition with winners or losers, success or failure, coming first or coming second. It would be a hard task to change thinking that is so deeply embedded. 

 

It was pondering about John the Baptizer that inspired me to muse on coming second. I wondered if all his life he had felt he was coming second. Mary and Elisabeth obviously shared a close relationship. John must have grown up knowing the story of his cousin Jesus’ birth —a younger cousin at that. I wondered, what must that have felt like? Did it feel like a shadow over him? Did John feel he was coming second? Did he feel as the elder he should have been the more prominent? 

 

Of course, these are questions that have no possible answer — they are merely my ponderings.

 

The text today starts by saying that John was not the light merely bearing witness to the light. John also clearly stated he was not the Messiah nor a prophet of old. John knew exactly who he was. Coming second had not spoilt his life or allowed bitterness or worthlessness to creep in. John seems to have found a freedom in coming second. John knew his role and the importance of it. John had a voice and used it to proclaim rightness. I think John is a great example of how to live. 

 

Today is Gaudet Sunday, the mid-point of Advent when the pink candle is lit as a reminder that there is joy even in the midst of a serious season of watching and waiting. This year, this Advent finding joy is especially important. Maybe, this year has felt a bit like coming second. This has become especially noticeable around this Christmas time when plans have been changed and expectations lowered. Perhaps, a little motto for Christmas 2020 should be — look for joy, find Joy, share Joy. 

 

I like to think of John standing in the midst of the crowds proclaiming “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness” with his face radiating joy as he heralds events to come.