2020: Counting Blessings vs. Worst Year Ever!
So what's the verdict? Is 2020 the worst year ever, or can we actually 'count our blessings' in this crazy year?
This is one of the questions I asked my IFC (International Friendship Center) Zoom class today. It was so amazing and therapeutic to hear our super diverse class describe the most difficult aspects of 2020 for them. I think by the end we all felt a little less lonely, like our personal load of troubles had become a bit lighter due to helping carry each other's burdens (Gal. 6:2).
Another question we discussed is: "What have been some bright spots for you in the darkness of 2020?" My international friends' answers were about as diverse as the class, as we had students and professors from six different countries represented today, which is pretty typical for our online classes. One of members was logging in from the Middle East, where it was 10:30 pm at the start of class, and midnight by the time we finished!
We concluded with a discussion of Romans 5:1-5, finding that, remarkably, many cultures have axioms which are similar to the truths in this Scripture passage: that God uses our sufferings to produce good results such as perseverance in faith, godly character, unshakeable hope, and even a deeper awareness of His love and Spirit.
