Oh say, can you see?

I’m sure we all can agree there are advantages in not knowing what our future holds. Especially in 2020. So many analogies were made concerning it being a year of “2020 vision”.

The end of 2019 brought a threat of a virus supposedly coming from China. As we began 2020 there were rumors of it wreaking havoc on the US. Still, it would be a few weeks before we realized the impact. As days, weeks, and months passed, it seemed as though the 2020 vision that had been predicted was now worse than someone looking through coke bottle-thick lenses.

I will say, though Covid may have clouded our vision a bit, everyone had their eyes opened wider to see a world we were unfamiliar with. It was uncomfortable, lonely, frustrating, disappointing, depressing, and the list goes on. We saw division among people last year like none other. The mask, social distancing, and restrictions varied from county to county and state to state. Even now in PA our restaurants are closed with the exception of takeout only and all athletic facilities/gyms are closed. Meanwhile, it’s “normal” life in other states.

Personally, I wish I could say my eyes were able to see clearly in 2020. Unfortunately, that was not the case. If it weren’t for my incredible faith and hope in my Heavenly Father, I would have lost my vision and probably my mind. It’s only through Him I found grace and mercy in a season where oftentimes I felt frustrated and lost.

2020 was the year of so much loss. Physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. The only way to survive it well was to fix our eyes on something greater than what we could see in front of us.

Oh say, can you see? That is the question.

In 2021 what will you see? Our vision (physical, mental, spiritual) oftentimes determines our destiny. What we see radically effects who we are and how we respond. Who, what, and where will you fix your eyes in 2021? It won’t be easy, but it might be awesome. We have been given the opportunity to choose our vision and ultimately our destination.

There is an old hymn written by Joslin Groove…

Open my eyes that I may see

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free

Silently now I wait for thee
Ready, my God, thy will to see
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth thou sendest clear;
And while the wavenotes fall on my ear
Everything false will disappear

Silently now I wait for thee
Ready, my God, thy will to see
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with thy children thus to share

Silently now I wait for thee
Ready, my God, thy will to see
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

CHOOSE JOY EVERYDAY!