2020: Faith or Que Sera Sera

Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is.

- C.S. Lewis

Ever prepared for an exam in your favorite course (Viral Pathogenesis for me) where you had run various question scenarios through your mind and had answers for each question.

You were so assured that only an exam set in Russian or outside that course would shake you.  

And boooom🤯!  

As you go through each question all you can see are sentences in Russian, 🤬 mixed with ancient Greek and some sprinkles of Latin. 

Or have you ever been disappointed by the album release of your favorite artiste/band after being highly expectant (I still haven’t gotten over the heartbreak of Louis Tomlinson “Walls”).

The above scenarios are brief descriptions of 2020 in a few pictures, with words like unexpected; unforeseen and heartbreaking being synonymous with this year. 

Rarely has a year come around with so much promise and dreams as 2020. For many, it was to be “the year” we blossomed, took next steps (in love, career, goals, dreams) or consolidated plans/decisions. Like an unwanted playlist, the most played track of 2020 has been one of pain, loss, surprise (and not the good type) - a global pandemic changing our perception of what “normal” is; petrol price hikes and ineffective government/response structures, amongst others. Everything that could be wrong about a year has been embraced by 2020 and it has affected everyone across racial, economic, religious and tribal divides. 

This piece isn’t written to remind you about the obvious but to help you zero-in on those little but pivotal positives which would be shaping our lives for years to come:

~~Love and Kindness~~

 2020 has re-emphasised the need for consistency in love and kindness. For example, the lockdown enforced by the pandemic has opened the eyes of families, friends, loved ones to the work still to be done on loving one another, checking up on people and most importantly strengthening bonds already formed. 2020 has been a modern day Proverbs 17:17 

“a friend liveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity”.

~~Patience and Courage~~

I believe no two virtues or foundations have been tested more this year than those of patience and courage. It’s been a year that has taught us to stay patient in things we can’t change (trust me there are definitely occurrences we haven’t been able to change try as we may) and renewed courage to try out things we have long held out on. This year I have seen friends and loved ones take up plans on that have long been on their hearts, understanding that there never is a perfect time when all aligns.

~~Gratitude and Faith~~

 The most important lesson or mind-change 2020 has brought so far is one of gratitude and ultimately faith. 2020 has been like a child with mood-swings - today, sad and bringing losses; tomorrow, happy with things worth a lot of gratitude.

I have learnt all year long that it is okay to grieve at a loss of opportunities, loved ones or jobs, but I have also been encouraged by two things in every moment of loss; gratitude for the impact such opportunities and souls had on those around them (even the short ones). 

While staying trusting, that God still is mindful of all that is left and those they left behind. Paul describes our disposition to 2020 best in 1 Corinthians 13:9-13; reminding us of how we see only see parts of the puzzle and God’s continuous working to reveal the whole picture to us. 

Verse 13 is my favorite as it says “and now abideth faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 

This rings true in all seasons even 2020, get mad and pray in faith and hope, ask questions of a loving Father about the things you can’t figure out but most importantly find courage in the knowledge that a loving Father is aware of all 2020 has brought your way.

When this year ends (believe me it would), we all would be left with two directions to travel in 2021- either a deeper sense of trust and love for God or a laid-back que sera sera mindset anchored on doubt. I pray at every point we travel in the direction of the former. C.S. Lewis words reiterates this, “God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.”

With Love,

Your friend,

Daniel Okpaise.