As I sit here drinking my morning cup of coffee, I am reflecting on the wonderful weekend Sweet T and I had celebrating Christmas with friends. Saturday night, our small group got together for a Christmas gathering. We had SO much fun and tons of laughs, as we always do. Sunday night was my work Christmas party—-which had to be one of the BEST work Christmas parties ever! All in all, looking back over the weekend, I think what made it memorable—-aside from spending time with my beautiful wife—-is getting together with people and having fun like we all used to do before the pandemic. As remains true with that very first Christmas over 2,000 years ago, this is a season of love, joy, peace, and HOPE.
This past weekend renewed my hope.
We live in an era where hope is badly needed. I don’t know what 2022 looks like in comparison to the last two years, but I am hopeful. I don’t know if that means we will ever get back to the way things were before any of us ever heard of COVID-19, but maybe we can get beyond where we are now.
And it’s not just the virus or the pandemic itself. It’s all the other things surrounding it like the political discord and the societal divide. Many mornings it feels like we live in a world of two distinct polar opposites. And maybe that’s truly the way life has always been.
There’s also the scary increase of prices across the board and the continuing empty spaces on store shelves—something foreign to us living in America—at least for my generation (Go Gen-X!).
Honestly, the Great Upheaval began before the pandemic. For us, it started around 2017 or perhaps even earlier around 2015 or 2016.
For sure, the last 24 months have been crazy. I hope, as we near Christmas Day 2021, that some sense of sanity returns to our present world.
How about you? Are you feeling hopeful as we end 2021 and near the beginning of 2022?
This past weekend reminded both Terri and I that people are what make life interesting and full of joy. We pray that your Christmas is one overflowing with goodness. May you experience the blessings of love, joy, peace, and hope that this season ushers in.
Blessings,
The Devotional Guy™
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The Devotional Guy™ 
Frankly, I don’t know what to expect in 2022, Rainer. This past summer it seemed the pandemic was behind us. Apparently not.
Several members of our church choir recently tested positive for COVID-19. The past two years have been like a song that never ends.
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Yes, the last two years have been challenging and this virus is stubborn. I’m not sure what to expect either, but the past several days have renewed my hope, if only for a moment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, David.
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I haven’t lost hope either. God is still in charge.
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True dat. Hallelujah!
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