I've read it, quoted it and taught it: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." Romans 8:28 (NIV). But the year 2020 has tested how committed I am to this belief. Did God abandon us in 2020? I confess that more than once I've felt like Nathanael when he heard Jesus grew up in Nazareth. "Can anything good come out of 2020?"
Yet it's absolutely true. God has worked for the good of those who love Him in 2020.
I've seen a post or two of people admitting that goodness has come out of this year, so let me add my list here.
GOOD THINGS IN A NOT-SO-GOOD YEAR
1. DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS. Quarantine made a lot of families do things they had never done. During lock-down, family mealtime was instituted where there was none. People started baking their own bread and teaching kids how to cook. Because the theaters weren't open, game nights appeared. Yes, some just binge-watched series and shows they had never seen, but some confessed to actually picking up books they had never read. One family I know started a weekly ritual of watching an online concert together. Some small groups, although forced to meet virtually, actually drew closer because of becoming vulnerable to each other, expressing their fears and common struggle during COVID. While not true for everyone, especially senior adults who live alone, many relationships grew deeper.
2. SOCIAL AWARENESS. As an American, I value our individual freedoms and those inalienable rights our country were founded on. Individual rights and freedom should be a treasure to us all. But during 2020, we became more aware that although we may have freedom to do what we want, using that freedom may not be in the best interest of others. Perhaps we've become more aware of the need for neighborly kindness and to lay down a few rights temporarily. While conspiracy theories grow and an uncertain political future can intimidate us, I'm convinced that a bit of social awareness has taken root. I know that personally in my neighborhood, we are talking more than we ever have and expressing more care for one another.
3. GRATITUDE FOR WHAT WE TOOK FOR GRANTED. Tears can be a surprise. They are a signal that we feel something deeply. The first time we took communion since the pandemic in our worship center, I wiped away the tears. Even though, communion was different, with sealed cups and gloved ushers, I tasted those elements with a bit more gratitude for a practice I had sometimes taken for granted. After months of being apart, there we stood together in the same room, doing something Christians have done for centuries--remembering the Lord's death and invoking His presence and blessing. Virtual community has helped us all but it has its limitations. We still don't hug each other much, lay hands on the sick, or have prayer circles without masks. One day, I hope we will again. I think we will be more grateful when we do.
4. NEW METHODS OF MINISTRY. Yes, virtual community has limitations. But as we have utilized zoom, Youtube live, and other means a bit more, we have expanded circles of influence for the gospel. I regularly hear from people who are watching and reading our content from multiple states and countries. It will never take the place of personal presence, but it is filling a gap and planting seeds of the gospel where we may never personally go.
5. WORKING FROM HOME. As a result of lockdown, many companies have discovered that offices away from home are not as vital as we thought. Employers thought that businesses would close and work would not get done as employees worked from home and piddled and played all day long. Instead, some have discovered an equal or increase in output simply because there was no commute time and wasteful impromptu meetings. No, it's not perfect and some have lost the power of in-house collaboration. But many others are flourishing in home offices and as a result are more present to family.
So there are my five. Yes, there is much to lament and grieve over, not the least of which is over 400,000 dead here in the States as a result of COVID. Nevertheless, I think God is true to His Word. He "works for the good of those who love Him..."
How about you? Sound off. What's something good that has come out of a difficult year?
