Considering the year that 2020 has been, we may be inclined to forget it and want to fast forward to normal times.  That would be a mistake. In its odd, challenging way, 2020 has provided us perfect vision.

The list of lessons learned, wisdom gleaned and skills discovered in the course of the year – remember Nietzche’s famous line, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” – is long, and we would not have acquired them any other way than by the experiences we had. That doesn’t mean we should desire to re-live it, nor should we forget it. Just today is all that we should consider; indeed, “sufficient to today are the evils thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)  We have plenty to deal with today, much less looking back or looking too far ahead.  Just today.

My dad was an older dad than my friends’ fathers. The younger dads would sometimes ask dad if he wished he were younger.  He replied, “And go through all that c*** again?  No way. I am happy right where I am today.” Happy. Today.

I was 17, working as a cashier at a Handy Andy grocery near my home. The legal age for drinking had just been changed to 18. As I checked out a man’s groceries, which included beer that was on sale, I said, “I can’t wait until I’m 18!” He replied quietly, calmly:  “Don’t be wishing your life away, young man.” Just today.

No matter what we thought a year ago about the challenges of 2019, we surely faced new, bigger challenges in 2020. We adapted, grew, researched information to make bold decisions. 2020 gave us vision – a new view of ourselves, life, courage and resolve.

Here’s to using the new vision in 2021 and beyond…one today at a time.