Farewell 2019, Hello 2020! Together, but Separate

It’s the 365th day of 2019. Time to say farewell to 2019 and hello to 2020. As a kid, I use to think about 2020, I always thought to myself, 2020 is a long time away. Well, now 2020 is upon us. My generation (80’s babies) will be turning 40-plus in this decade. Where has the time gone?
Before I get into the reason why I’m writing this I would like to say thank you to God for so many blessings this year…life, family, friends, a radio ministry, a brand new podcast, a redesigned website, the opportunity to pastor, the opportunity to teach bible studies and workshops, the opportunity to preach revivals, and opportunities to feed the hungry. This year, I had the opportunity to visit the African American Museum in Washington DC for the first time. Such a rich experience. If you haven’t been, please go…It will bless your life. I enjoyed the top floors the most. I learned so much about the African American History in the Arts. Incredible!
Now, to the reason why I wrote this. While I was shopping in the stores during the Christmas season, I thought about all the people who were celebrating Christmas. Then, I thought…no matter who you are December 25th will come…January 1st will come. We share a New Year together. Some share Christmas together. We do the same things, buy food to cook dinners or throw parties…buy new outfits for the new year. Even though, we share these holidays and activities together, it seems like we are separate. This is the feeling I felt when I was in the store. I saw people looking for the same thing I was looking for…but we were still separate. They didn’t take a brief moment to speak, they just passed by.
AS we enter 2020 together, many will veer off into their own lanes, while leaving others behind. I hope that we can do something different. Stop passing by each other…time is short…we live in this world together. Stop being in the way of others and make a pathway for others. I pray that we won’t live 2020 in our own separate corners, but take the time to be together. I pray that our young people in 2020 will VALUE LIFE. Don’t be so quick to end a problem with violence. I pray that in 2020 we can love as God commands us to love. Let’s be together, not Separate in 2020.
Happy New Year!
- Rev. Matthew Shannon