What 2020 Has Taught Me

I received the most precious gift the other day from a friend and mentor. I appreciate thoughtful gifts from those who think of others before they think of themselves. I feel so touched and honored that my name even crossed their minds, that they would go out of their way to gift me with their time, resources, gifts and words.

In her gift, she provided me with a book that I had been meaning to read for quite some time (Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist for those curious). She also gifted me with a tiny star on a simple silver chain. I was in awe of the beautiful piece by itself, but it was the card in which she provided me with a quote from the book she gave me that struck me the most:

"The morning I decided to dive even more deeply and honstly into the practice of silence, I bought myself a necklace with a tiny star on a fine gold chain. Something about the star felt meaningful to me- delicate, powerful, rising, constant, lighting the dark in a small but glittering way. Several times a day, my fingers find the tiny star around my neck, a symbol of doing something difficult and valuable."- Present Over Perfect.

A tiny star. So delicate, yet still incredibly powerful as it pulses it's light for all of us to see and enjoy. Rising to the occasion at just the perfect moment and fulfilling its purpose in the lifespan it has been given. Perhaps it is the romantic in me, but I find that to be incredibly poignant and motivating.

The year 2020 was rung in by many of us with hopes and inspirations of having the best year ever. It was supposed to be a brand new decade of fulfilling everything our hearts could possibly desire. Those of us who experienced lost love dreamed of fresh starts and new opportunities to find their person. For those hit with struggles in life, finances, business, personal envisioned a more brighter future for themselves and their families. The year 2020 was to be a fresh start for all of us.

Yet, we kicked off that year with a tragedy no one saw coming: the death of Kobe Bryan and his teenage daughter and several others in a gruesome plane crash. The majority of us had never met him, yet ever single person will be able to recall where they were when Kobe Bryant died. The loss was felt deeply and across the nation and the globe.

Then, came Coronavirus. The fear of the unknown. A virus no one really knew much about and we saw loved ones and friends getting sick, even watching as some succumbed to death.

Then the shutdowns. Those of us who had found security in our education, our jobs, our livelihoods, our abilities, immediately were deemed "non-essential" by the powers that be. Our children were instantly shuttered inside their homes and away from contact with their peers and communities. Sports were cancelled. Graduations were cancelled. Seniors were told they could not celebrate their final year of high school and recognize the culmination of all of their hard work before they ventured off into the unknown possiblities of their future.

More and more individuals became depressed and even gave up living among the living because community was taken from them. The loneliness and lack of self worth and anxiety and mental illness they may have already been struggling with came to a disastrous head, all because "experts" were telling us it was for our safety. It was for our good. It was for our health.

Churches doors were slammed shut. Businesses closed their doors, with many unable to ever open again. The economic losses have decimated communities, families and livelihoods. All for our safety.

Yes, 2020 has not been the year of our dreams, but it has opened my eyes to something else.

We are like this tiny star I am fingering at this very moment. We are delicate, however we are incredibly resilient and powerful. We rise to the occasion when necessary. We choose to get up each and every day, to love others. To serve one another. To worship our God. To shout out hope and truth to whoever will listen.

I have watched as families who were priviledged with extra, gave in abundance. They provided meals, toys, their home, their communities and their hearts so that others would not be without.

We pivoted and learned how to create communities and connection via zoom and Facebook and Instagram. We chatted and had margarita girls nights over Facetime, just so we could see each other's faces.

Each of us rose up and decided to voice our beliefs, fight for one another. We spoke out against the atrocities and sins of the world around us, the injustices that we knew about but suddenly were forced to recognize; and we decided that in our period of slow, it was time to start doing something and make changes.

People of faith learned how to connect and meet the needs of others. They truly began to grasp what it mean to love thy neighbor.

We were small, insignificant, delicate people who became incredibly strong and resilient. A virus wasn't going to keep us down. A lockdown wasn't going to keep us from loving and serving one another. The choice was clear: we could choose to cower and live in fear, or we could choose to shine brightly with our little light and purpose that we are given with the lifespan we have been given. To keep rising. To keep telling. To keep sharing. To keep loving.

The year 2020 taught me that there is no such thing as security as we once believed. We saw how quickly everything we knew came to a halt or was ripped out from under us with just one declaration from someone in power.

The year 2020 also taught me that we are a tiny star in a mighty big universe, and we have purpose. And we need to start steppinginto that purpose. To not be afraid if our light shines as bright as the others. Just shine yours. Do what you are called to, even in the midst of a pandemic or hardship.

Here is to finishing 2020 strong, and praying for an incredible 2021.

Tiffany Rhea