(I wrote this at the start of 2020. Next week, I’ll post my reflections on this year and call it: Hindsight is 2020. If you like this message, you’ll want to subscribe to my newsletter, so you don’t miss the next one.)
Like many of you, I become reflective and hopeful when coming into a new year. I seek purpose and meaning in past, present and future events. Entering 2020 is more than an incremental milestone for me. In fact, it’s more meaningful now than any year, because a message not only waits for us but will constantly beckon to us should we choose to see it.
According to Matthew, Jesus said, ” Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye?”
To me, it’s like God knew the world would be plagued by more selfishness now than any time in history. We could debate this but that proves my point. We have Internet trolls, divisive rhetoric, soapbox heroes, political mischief and all kinds of no-good barraging us every day. It’s crazy how things seem to get worse.
Like it or not, what we take in becomes us. It’s in our psyche. We resist, but it still exists. Arguing and trying to inspire change opens doors to long roads of discourse that seemingly take us nowhere. And the reason why is because we are so easily deceived. All of us. And that’s why it’s important to take time to clear our vision before we speak on things we see.
We hear a lot of talk about clandestine operations, the man behind the curtain, conspiracies… Hard to trust anybody these days. For a lot of you, that includes me because I’m just a guy. Most of you don’t know me. But even in all the noise, we can see a clear path that leads to a better state. But we cower from that righteous path as we dance hypnotically towards the sounds of the Pipers’ many tunes.
This year, I’ll shift my focus from the cacophony and drive towards the path where the Truth remains steadfast, unbending and eternal. I pray that you do too. May you remember this every time you see 2020.