I have noticed a reoccurring theme at the end of every year. As I strolled through social media at the end of 2019, everyone was so excited to leave 2019 behind. Everyone appeared to be on one accord that 2019 was not a good year to them. But everyone agreed that the next year would be a great year for them.
Yet, I also recall the ending of 2018. Most people could not wait to leave that year behind to jump into 2019. I also remember the end of 2017. Everyone had the same sentiments. The consensus was clear. Everyone was running from 2017 to leap into 2018 with a renewed sense of hope and expectation.
Do you see the reoccurring theme? We always run from the current year to jump into the next year. I think we can all agree that we took 2019 for granted. It was a mask-less time in which we did not have to adhere to the 6ft social distancing rule. Yet, 2019 has come and gone. There is no need nor any point in dwelling in the past. What we have now is 2020.
What happened to the light-hearted joy that we possessed on December 31, 2019? What happened to the "2020 Vision" slogan? Has it been disregarded because of Covid-19? Has Hurricane Sally, Hurricane Teddy, and social injustices made us lose our sight? Are we going to wait until December 31, 2020 for renewed hope? I thought this was the year of 2020 Vision?
We know 2020 Vision to be perfect vision. Lord knows, I am far from having 20/20 vision in the natural sense of the word. I remember before I knew I had a vision problem, I would move up a few seats to see the projector screen in grade school. I also remember riding home in the car with my dad after a well-needed eye exam. I was prescribed my first pair of eyeglasses. I could finally see!
I was amazed at all the billboard signs I missed on the way to the doctor. Everything was so clear, vivid, and vibrate — the sky, the trees, the passing cars. It was as if I were living in a 3D world, but could only see in 2D. I couldn’t believe that my vision was that bad. I was stunned about all the things that I missed - all the things I did not see, simply because my sight was skewed. I felt like I had missed out on life. I literally couldn’t see how beautiful the world around me was. I had eyes but could not see... just like the disciples.
Mark 8:16–21 (KJV) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
The disciples forgot to bring bread with them on their trip; thus, they worried where their next meal would come from. But they worried about their next meal right after they witnessed Jesus feeding 5,000 souls with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread and after they witnessed Him feed 4,000 with 7 loaves of bread and a few fish. Let's not forget that there was also plenty of left overs to spare.
So, how could the disciples not see that God was able to provide for them? Forgive me reader. I'm about to step... no... I'm about to stomp on your toes. Fair warning...
The disciples could not see for the same reason that I could not see on the way to my eye exam. They could not see for the same reason that you cannot see that 2020 is still the year of perfect vision. You have eyes, but you cannot see. Your sight is skewed. You're rushing into 2021 because you are ungrateful for the time God has given you in 2020. It's the same reoccurring theme... just a different year. When we grow tired of the precious gift of time we have in the current year, we rush to have the same gift of time in the following year. It's the same gift... just a different year. But we become ungrateful for the current gift because we want it wrapped in a different bow... we are ungrateful for the gift of life that is wrapped in 2020.
We have to stop the continuous cycle of ungratefulness.
We have to stop looking towards the new year and start looking at right now. Be thankful for the gift of time we have right now, instead of looking for the same gift of time in 2021. While I am not sorry for stepping on your toes, I will give you credit. I dare say the faith that you had at the beginning of 2020 was stronger than the disciples. Your faith was stronger because you believed in something you did not see. The disciples saw and still had doubts. But you had faith that 2020 was going to be a great year, although you could not see into this year.
But now, many of us have let go of 2020. We are anxiously anticipating 2021. But guess what? You can't see into 2021 either. Yet, I am sure you have already claimed that 2021 will be a better year than 2020. How are you doing this without eyes into the future? Simple. You are doing it
By Faith
So, may I ask what happened to the faith that you had at the end of 2019? Did you lose it because of the events of 2020? But don't you see the pattern? There will always be unforeseen circumstances every year. Life itself is an unforeseen circumstance. But we cannot allow circumstances to alter our faith.
Don't miss this sign on the way to 2021 like I missed all the billboard signs on the way to the doctor. Don't miss the beauty of life that we do have in 2020. Don't opt to see in 2D when you have the opportunity to see in 3D. Don't let the events of 2020 take away your faith or your vision. You don't have to wait until 2021 to regain your sight. You have eyes, so choose to see today. Look beyond the current events of the world, and look into the spiritual realm.
You looked into the spiritual realm on December 31, 2019. So what is stopping you from looking into it today? Is your faith only activated at the end of each year? Take the date restraint off my God! He's bigger than that! He is not bounded by time, space, or matter. How dare you bound Him to December 31, 2020? This is the year of 2020 Vision, whether you choose to remain blinded or not. If He could feed 4,000 and 5,000 souls with a fragment of food and still have left-overs, what makes you think He can't provide an overflow this year with the remaining fragments of 2020?
Stop looking at 2020 with your natural eyes and go get your 2020 Vision back. Go get your faith back! Your sight is skewed. But that's okay, you just need to refocus. We asked God for 2020 Vision, and He has shown it to us. He shut-down the world for crying out loud! He gave us plenty of time to turn to Him and put our faith in Him... yet, some of us still have eyes but cannot see.
Whew! I feel my passion taking over, so I'm going to close before I run out of toes to step on. However, please know I only step on your toes out of love. I just want you to get your 2020 Vision before 2021. Don't repeat the same cycle. Don't rush to end 2020 just to have the same issues in 2021. Be grateful that you're even here to read this. We have lost so many souls this year. It has been a tragic year for many. Even in the mist of composing this article, I learned a dear leader in my church passed away. It was completely unexpected and my heart aches as I type. Yet, it is a reminder that it is truly a blessing to still be here in 2020. Be grateful for the gift of life this year, regardless of the tragic unforeseen circumstances.
Thank God for what He has done this year, what He can still do this year, and what He will do in 2021. The fragments of 2020 is more than enough for God to provide an overflow. Don't miss the move of God to have perfect vision this year. Fix your vision today while you still have the time. Because as Donny Hathaway so beautifully sang, tomorrow may never come. Get your sight back today. Reclaim your faith today. For this is yet the year of 2020 Vision!
In loving memory of Brother Frank Burkes