2020: It Might Be Beautiful

With the beginning of a new decade, I think everyone was a little more excited than usual. An idea hung in the air of starting over fresh and new; putting the teens behind us and reaching forward to the 20’s with great expectation. Social media buzzed with delighted anticipation of what was to come in this brand new decade! There were such great things in store.

But then…ya know…your average pandemic hits you in the face like a pie pan full of shaving cream that burns your eyeballs to the sockets, threatens to suffocate you, leaves a chemical taste in your mouth, completely destroys your hairstyle, and trashes your favorite outfit.

What, in the name of all that’s good, just happened???

A huge disappointment

When the new year began, COVID-19 was only a whisper in our ears here in the states and seemed so far and distant from us that it really wasn’t on the forefront of our minds and it certainly wasn’t going to turn our plans for the year upside down…right?

Well… we all know how deeply we’ve been effected. Each and every one of us. Some worse than others, and in different ways, but no one has gone unscathed. 2020 has truly been the beginning of something new…but not the kind of new that anyone hoped or planned for. 2020 has quickly gained itself a pretty awful reputation. The 5,627 days we’ve experienced of it so far have been disappointing at best compared to what we had anticipated. This year is generally seen, somewhat understandably, as a huge disappointment. A complete let-down. And for some, a tragedy.

We really just want it to be over already.

I want it to be over already.

I mean, really, has any good come out of this year as of yet? Hasn’t it just been a pretty intense nightmare from which we just can’t seem to wake?

We’ve seen much more pain, more devastation, more heartbreak, more confusion, and more frustration in these last months that we’ve likely seen in a lifetime. And it doesn’t really matter where you stand on the issue, whether you see COVID-19 as a fearfully overwhelming, deadly virus that might take you or a loved one at any moment, or a farce or fear tactic used by the government to destroy all we hold dear, or if, like me, you’re floating somewhere in the middle, totally confused and wishing you knew the wisest way to handle all of this. We’re all effected, and it’s so easy to see 2020 as just bad. So terribly, horribly, unfathomably bad.

And yet…

In some ways, yes, it has been a nightmare. Still, as we take a look at this year so far, there is another point of view we really shouldn’t miss. In fact, it would be a tragedy in itself to allow ourselves to be blinded to the ultimate potential 2020 still has. It would be a terrible thing to refuse to see its beauty… broken beauty though it may be.

What beauty?

Is that what you’re asking? Crazy, right? But let’s think about it. Please, I’m asking you to think about it. Because, I know if I don’t, I might go insane and I might miss chances to thank my God who is still good, whose common grace to the entire world is still seen, even now.

So I’ll name just some of the beauty I see…and I won’t even be scratching the surface. And it’s not just me. I’ve asked around. I’ve heard stories. From people who are out of work, or working from home, or simply home every single night and weekend for a lack of anywhere to go. And I’ve spoken with people much more affected by this than I am… because I realize this has devastated some people in ways I can’t begin to imagine. And I don’t want to be insensitive to that. But I do believe there is a beauty everyone sees if they’re simply willing to look.

So here we go…

Beauty… it’s a daddy of a newborn that actually gets to see his baby grow as he would never otherwise be able to, it’s the hand of help he gets to offer his wife, it’s the little moments he may never see again. Or the daddy who gets to play with, wrestle with, teach, and make memories with his kids as he often simply doesn’t have the time to.

Beauty is a mama that gets to spend so many more moments with her children than regular routines usually allow. Whether she normally works or is a SAHM who just stays super busy with all the things, all the errands, all the coming and going each day. It’s getting to watch her little people learn and grow. It’s being able to be the one to help them through all this craziness. It’s being a friend when they are so distanced from anyone else. It’s getting to offer that comforting hug anytime they need it. It’s getting creative with all the extra time you’re spending together!

Beauty is the young couple, grieving because they are so ready to be married, so ready to celebrate with all of their friends and family, so ready for the day they always pictured… but also seeing the beautiful truth in the fact that pledging their lives to each other before God and beginning the journey hand in hand, joyful in the blessing of one another, is truly what getting married is all about.

Beauty is a husband and wife that have been so busy for so long, they’ve finally been able to stop long enough to really, truly, see one another. Maybe not every moment is perfect, but it reveals the joy as well as the need for improvement and that is never bad. It’s the chance to get to know the person you married all over again. It leaves time for walks, for late night conversations, for games, for meals eaten as a family, for time together. It’s a gift.

Beauty is the young people who, though grieving for the loss of prom, sports seasons, and graduation, are seeing how loved and appreciated they are as so many friends, families and even towns have gone out of their way to make their graduates feel special and recognized, to let them know how proud they are of them.

Beauty is the memories being made that never would have been made under normal circumstances. Things you’ve tried and done that you’ll never forget, simply to fill time that is normally already full.

Beauty is a project finally completed that you’ve meant to do for months or years but never had or made the time. When time is all you have and you act wisely, its amazing what you can accomplish.

Beauty is the growing that comes when we have to learn to do things differently, because these circumstances simply doesn’t allow us to continue as we were. It’s not really a bad thing. No pain, no gain, no challenge, no change.

Beauty is taking in a sunrise or a sunset because you aren’t rushing through your morning like a maniac, and you’re home every evening to notice it. Or you take it in while out for a drive since I hear that’s “the thing” to do lately.

Beauty is seeing people going above and beyond to show acts of kindness, just to spread a little joy in such a sorrowful and frustrating time. Opportunities that would usually be ignored are being embraced and it’s an amazing thing.

Beauty is realizing that as Americans…we’re more than a little spoiled. It’s a gift to be able to see that, because only then can we be a bit more grateful for everything that we have. Everything that can be gone in a moment. Everything that we don’t deserve but are blessed to possess.

Beauty is our ability to empathize with the world around us. When most tragedies strike only a city, a country or perhaps a continent, we tend to glance at the headlines, feel momentary sympathy, and move on. This is something different. It doesn’t matter your race, background, culture, or economic class. No one is above this or safe from this. And we need that humbling, uniting reminder. We are all made in the image of God and are called to:

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)

Beauty is seeing how fragile life is, because it makes you treasure each person, each day with them, each opportunity to love them, all the more.

Beauty is seeing how God is providing even in difficult circumstances… because when all is well, we simply don’t take the time to notice. And beauty is realizing what our true needs really are.

Beauty is seeing the Word of God as real and true and comforting because you’re realizing that every single thing we have and know can be taken away but His Word stands forever and is truly timeless. And passages that you might have glossed over before are suddenly something you’re clinging to. And if you aren’t looking to the Scriptures…beauty is knowing you still can and there has never been a better time than now.

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6)

Beauty is realizing that everything listed above is by God’s amazing common grace to mankind. COVID-19 and all that comes with it are the result of a sinful world. A fallen human race, rebelling against the One who created them. Sickness, poverty, chaos, and suffering are the consequence of man’s disdain for a holy God. Beauty is seeing the common grace he grants to us all each day we live, meant to lead us to turn away from our sin and toward him, because he is good, so good. We are blessed beyond measure, and even in the most difficult of times (though they could be far worse), God still grants joy and blessing and beauty.

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

Beauty is realizing that maybe we’ve settled for comfortable for a little too long. It’s realizing that though times may be hard, these times are growing us, where comfort tends to stunt that growth. It’s realizing that the journey to a beautiful and worthwhile destination might be hard, but if you don’t take that step, you’ll settle for less your whole life.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” -C.S. Lewis

Beauty is always there…sometimes it’s just harder to see than others…but when you find it, you treasure it all the more.

Application

Give 2020 some love.

Don’t waste this time sitting around, waiting for everything to go back to “normal”.

Embrace these challenging times and let the inability to take everything for granted grow you rather than tear you down.

Complain a little less and spend that time looking for every blessing you possibly can find. And thank God for it.

Realize that just because 2020 isn’t what you hoped it would be doesn’t mean it’s bad. It doesn’t mean life stopped for a year because you couldn’t do anything you originally planned. It doesn’t mean nothing good will come out of this. You never know, it might be the year that grows you the most.

Use this time to seek out the God who is unchanging in the midst of a rapidly changing world. He is hope itself. The one who is graciously granting you beautiful things and offers you peace and hope in Him in the midst of all this chaos.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. (Ecc. 3:11)

Know that though 2020 has and will undoubtedly bring pain… God makes beauty from ashes… and it just might be beautiful.