Happy New Year!
Response: And also with you.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:16 - 25
2020 has been quite a year by any standards, historical, personal or other such measures. Not that each generation doesn't believe its period of time to be unique. We hear people say today that "it is worse now than ever in our history," completely ignorant of the fact that they were saying that in 1920, 1820, 1720.... you get the idea. Still, in my 61 years of living, 2020 has been unique.
It is my first pandemic of sorts, although I was born at the tail end of rubella (German measles), as well as being born at the tail end of polio and small pox, the vaccines of both being administered to eradicate the disease in my lifetime. I had the measles, chicken pox and the mumps, and I have met people who had polio who are close to my age. Yet still, it has been a few generations since we've had to face a pandemic (this is NOT a political statement or writing, so don't read any opinion in this).
We also had an election the likes of which I've not seen in awhile. In my youth, I vividly remember 1968, which brought two assassinations (on the heals of a presidential assassination in 1963) and an election. There were riots and more riots and counter protests at the Democrat National Convention in Chicago. 2020 has seemed to be equally contentious to that period as well, but whether or not we have peaked has yet to be seen. 1968 seemed like the peak at that time looking back in history.
All that to say, 2020 has been quite a year, at least as we are still standing on this side of the timeline with 2021 set to kick off tomorrow (Jan 1). Interestingly enough, I heard a person speak on this topic this week in a brief meeting, during which she challenged all of us to reflect on 2020 this way:
3. What are three lessons you learned in 2020?
2. Two stories from 2020 that speak to you?
1. What is one question you take away from 2020? How will it make you different as you seek the answer to it?
She then shared a story and said one of her lessons is this: We are all "carriers." Certainly that comes from COVID-19, but in a broader sense, we are, have been and always will be "carriers." We do carry things and share them with one another. Sure, it can be a virus or a bacteria, but it can also be attitude, knowledge, actions and behaviors. As you look to 2021, what is it you want to carry?
Paul wrote that we carry the sins of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit. In a sense, as I look to 2021, that is my hope: That I bear fruit of the Spirit. I note that Paul says that against these behaviors, "there is no law." The law was written to curb the flesh. So, what do we hope to bear as we move forward in our lives? What do we hope to "carry with us and share with others?"
Pray that we becomes carriers of the fruits of the Spirit at the very least, and that perhaps we carry with us the unbridled enthusiasm to share that good news with others who are also seeking answers and searching.
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