Brittney Ford

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!

Reflection:
I’m just going to come out and say it… I didn’t hate 2020. We all had different experiences in 2020- Many suffered immense loss. Others were met with financial hardships. Living life confined to our homes made us feel isolated and frustrated, and virtual school for our kids was a struggle. Wherever we find ourselves today we can look back and find the silver linings to the forced time at home. 

I know more about my neighbors than just their names. I know that Michael plays a mean Texas Hold ‘Em, Sandra has the best green thumb on our street, JJ once hung out with a famous celebrity, and Tiffanie is dangerously competitive. Our time at home gave us the renewed chance to get to know the people that God so beautifully placed in our lives for this exact season. 

I loved the time in quarantine where we took family walks around the neighborhood and went on lengthy bike rides. Seeing so many people out of their homes gave us a sense of camaraderie. It gave me a sense that we’re all in this together. We didn’t choose this but we’re going to embrace this. 

We cooked, baked, gardened (or attempted to), redecorated, organized, exercised at home, and signed up for all the streaming services. We took virtual field trips, had drive-by birthday parades, attended zoom baby showers and weddings. 2020 opened up a whole new way of living and dare I say we might be better for it?

Perhaps the biggest adjustment of all was church. Watching Dr. Pace on my living room TV while wearing my pajamas was a novelty at first. We could involve the kids in worship like never before. Each week we would eagerly await to find out what Ms. Julie had in her bag and then listen to her read us a bedtime story on Wednesday evenings. I remember thinking, “this isn’t so bad; we’ll be back to church by Easter and all will be right in the world again.”  

As Easter approached and we were not yet back at church…well, that is the first time 2020 broke me. Sensing my sadness, my neighbor (the competitive one) organized a celebration for us. Dressed in our Sunday best, the dads hid eggs for the kids, we watched church together and had a traditional Easter lunch afterward. Sure we missed the Palm Sunday picnic and the sacred ritual of reciting “He is risen Indeed” alongside our church congregation, but this alternative was a bit of holiness that my heart needed. St. Luke’s helped us bring church into our home, which is really where it belonged in the first place.

This last year taught me that church starts with us. It’s our choice to turn on children’s worship videos, pick up the activity bags, go to the drive-through parades, attend virtual VBS. It’s our choice to log on for zoom bible studies and small groups. It has never been easier to make room for Jesus in our homes. With minimal effort, we can begin making a lasting impact in the hearts of our family members. Like the beloved children’s song, I am the Church, reminds us “the church is not a resting place, the church is the people.”

So while things have changed drastically, God has still been at work. The pace of life has shifted. Some of us have become accustomed to stepping away from the hustle. The opportunity to reset, rest and live into God making all things new is now. From our domestic abilities and tech savviness to our relationship with Jesus, we have been given the chance to receive this blessing from 2nd Corinthians: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!

Prayer:
God, you make all things new. Today I acknowledge the places in my life that need more of you. I receive your love that says, I am a new creation and that I am loved by my perfect Creator. The old is gone and forgiven. Today I am a new creation in you. I love you so much. Amen.