You’re in charge

After 2020 it’s truly hard to believe that “You’re in Charge”. Most of us feel battered about by every wind that came our way. Of course, it didn’t start out that way. But how much is any one person supposed to take and still be standing? Even those of us with lots of tools to deal with whatever comes our way were weakened. Some chose to deal with it all through denial which includes all kinds of behaviors including turning back to addictions, others with manipulation, others adapted (the best they could), the list of methods for gaining control include both healthy and unhealthy steps.

As we step into this new year, 2021, we discover our future full of possibilities. It’s as if Mr. Bee, above, just flew around a new corner and there before him lies blossoms and flowers in all directions and all states of development for as far as he could possibly fly in a year. What do you see Mr. Bee doing? Do you see him skidding to a stop, eyes bulging and hairs quivering? Perhaps he drops to the ground to catch his breath and consider the possibilities. “It must be a trick!” he thinks smelling the pollen just waiting for him. “No! Don’t go for it.”, he mumbles as he paces back and forth on the fertile moist ground. He becomes frozen in fear for what might happen. We can understand, after all, look at what he and the rest of the world had been through.

Meanwhile, Barbara Bee zings around the corner and eyes her friend on the ground. She lands on a leaf nearby and calls out: “Mr Bee, oh my, what are you doing on the ground!? You know you could get stepped on. Please come join me on the leaf.” Mr Bee is now totally absorbed in his fretting and his legs and wings have become covered with mud. “Oh Barbara Bee, it’s no use. The end has come and I just don’t have anymore fight in me. Save yourself if you can.” Barbara Bee looked at her dear friend and sounded the alarm calling all nearby bees to help. As they came, a few also got stuck in the mud with Mr Bee. Most were able to fly again after the dried mud flaked off their wings. Mr Bee followed their example and was soon flying again. Others however just didn’t have the strength and gave up. Soon the surviving bees were busy learning the ups and downs of their new field as they flew back to the hive laden with pollen.

Just like Mr Bee, it’s easy for us become weighted down with negativity and anxiety after the trauma of 2020. Let those who love you encourage you and even help you find new ways to move forward. If you, like Barbara Bee, have been able to hold onto your strength, share what you can with those who will listen. Encourage and assist if necessary. Remember, hope is real, God is reaching out to you where ever you are and who ever you are. You are never alone and can accept God’s healing embrace at any moment. The choice is yours. The path won’t necessarily be easy, but you can manage it.

2 Corinthians 1: 3-11

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, ^a about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.