In the Year Kobe died...

So, as a biblical scholar, I remember a profound scripture in Isaiah, chapter 6, verse 1, which says...In the year, King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne...and the rest continues. (You can read it later.) In this verse prophet Isaiah connected one of his visions to a profound death. King Uzziah. In the year King Uzziah died...Isaiah could have just said, I saw a vision where the Lord was sitting on a throne, but Isaiah starts off with King Uzziah’s death. I believe King Uzziah, started a snowball effect of events for Isaiah. So, to describe Year 2020, I’ve decided to start it off by saying, In the Year Kobe died...

 I was eating at C & E’s in Gretna on Sunday, January 26 after church. While eating, I could hear someone say, did you hear Kobe died...I checked my phone, watched the tv news report in shock. At that point, I struggled to finish my plate. On the way home, I checked my phone again (I wasn’t driving) and I saw his daughter, Gianna passed away too. At that point, 2020 went into a snowball downhill. There were some great moments in 2020, but most of it was apart of that snowball that started in January 2020. 

   In the Year Kobe died, we said goodbye to so many icons and legends, some are: Congressman John Lewis, Supreme Court Justice RBG, Jeopardy Host Alex Trebek, Actor Chadwick Boseman (AKA Jackie or Black Panther), Sean Connery, Naya Rivera, Regis and Bishop Rance Allen. Then, we lost over 300,000 in the US to COVID 19. I had to say farewell to my Godmother. America had to watch George Floyd lose his life in such a horrific way. Oh, the Year Kobe died was a rough one with too many losses to name. 

    In the Year Kobe died, the world was connected. Together, we suffered global losses, we mourned together, had to change our behaviors because of a global pandemic and we were on Zoom together. We were creative so that we could be with who we loved, to help out our neighbors, and to still be with our passion. I saw in June 2020, people march in the streets for equality all over the world. It didn’t matter what color you were, how much money you had...it was a sight to see. 

     In the Year Kobe died, I was able to release my second book, Keep your Life Lit, continue my podcast Being Authentic Together, and help host the HAT of HONOR Awards at my church. That was a fun event. 125 people in the sanctuary, honoring business women in Danville, so awesome. Then, two weeks later, the pandemic hit and the snowball continued...

    In the Year Kobe died, We made history and we elected Kamala Harris as VP and Joe Biden as US President. Over 150 million people voted...most ever.

   Despite our uncertainty, our grief, our struggles, the battles we face, we have learned in the Year Kobe died, to be resilient, to be creative, to support and love each other, and to value the differences that we have. We learned who the essential and frontline workers were. Much gratitude!!! 

    So, let us march forward into 2021 with new hope, with new love, new joy and new peace. Let’s walk with God together on this new journey of 2021!!!!! Have an Awesome New Year!