Christmas and the Year 2020
Photo by Dan Kiefer on Unsplash
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” - Isaiah 9:6-7
As a more culturally aware American, I recognize that this day means different things to people worldwide. So, first, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate in spirit with you.
To my Jewish friends, I hope you had a Happy Hanukkah. To some of my Hispanic friends, I hope you had an excellent time celebrating Las Posadas and Noche Buena. To fellow African Americans who start celebrations tomorrow, Happy Kwanzaa. And to those who I have missed, I wish you a general Happy Holidays.
I know that this year was a dumpster fire, but I hope that you and your families had a chance to celebrate with each other, even if it was via zoom or Facetime. For those who experienced pain and loss this year, I pray that you can still find joy and comfort. Nothing can be said to bring back what was lost but know that I grieve with you. Know that I am angry and sad with you. And I pray that next year will be more kind to not only you but also your family...
As I reflect on Christmas and the remainder of this year, I must admit that I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to express my feelings about today. I know today is supposed to be about good vibes and family, but instead, it’s been a reminder of how hard it’s been for me to see God in 2020. Between being sick since April, moving back to Florida, and being surrounded by constant reminders of white supremacy and death, it’s been hard to read passages about God and Justice like in Isaiah 9 shared above and not think: but when Lord? Pain and injustice have been winning all year, and you have barely done a thing.
Maybe it’s just the pessimist in me talking…
Still, today I wanted to be honest and give space for people who love God, family, and tradition but also find themselves in a place where they are wrestling with “keeping the faith.” It is okay to hold space for and acknowledge ALL feelings about today, even if that means you are leaning a little more towards sadness than you are towards joy. With that said, I hope you all are staying safe and I hope you have a Happy New Year!
Here’s to a better 2021… 🥂