2021: Do One Thing Well

Do you remember all the people who were calling 2020 the year of clarity? I’m not sure I have enough fingers and toes to account for the number of pastors who launched their preaching calendar year with some reference to vision and 2020.

Just as prevalent were the individuals who were ready and poised to read more, blog more (who put that mirror there?), or just create more. I am confident that I was in that camp.

Then racism made a painful return to the front pages, coronavirus paralyzed us, and the general election divided us. Many struggled to focus, some lost drive, and in most cases, we couldn’t interact with the people who typically help us back on our feet.

Sure, there were some bright spots of inspiration, glimpses of hope in a cloud of “meh.” But, 2020 proved difficult to find those things being the norm.

So what is going to be different about this year? 2021? Improved vision? Tougher resilience? Better goals?

After reflecting on the past year and the things that transpired in our community, our country, and our conversations, I’ve come down to one aim—one goal and one virtue that I’m hoping to embody. It’s a resolution that I hope you will add to your list, too. I think it can change our culture if we let it.

Do this: Love People Well

If anything was obvious throughout 2020, it was division, selfishness, and pride—the ever-present sins in the heart of humankind. From the very beginning of the year to the end of the calendar, stubborn self-centeredness has been our clearest trait.

Of course it wasn’t the only thing we experienced. We saw glimpses of people giving over and above to charities and churches. We caught the power of perspective change and the ability of people to serve each other just a bit more. When we were able to be together, we had refining conversations that reminded us of the potential that exists inside who we are.

Nevertheless it was hard to see the “good” of the human heart in 2020. Somewhere along the line, we lost the image of God in our neighbors.

The thing is: I know we have more to offer. I’ve had so many conversations that consisted of questions like:

“Is this really happening like this?”

“Are these the hills we’re going to die on?”

“Where are we actually putting our hope?”

Before we blame other people or situations, remember this: No politician forced you to make that public Facebook comment when you could have sat down for coffee; no situation in another state limited your empathy for people who think differently; no mandate directed you to be thoughtless in your response to people who viewed the world differently than you.

We did this. We slid this way. We allowed ourselves to create a culture where 2020 could happen—and not only did it happen, but it will continue to be a pervasive environment unless we change. It’s time to adjust course. It’s time to do something else.

This time, I’m committing to just this one thing. I’m convinced that if we do it well, everything will change. Jesus said it like this:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34

I don’t know what goals you have for this upcoming year, but ask yourself this: Does it still matter if you don’t love others well? By seeing the people around us as worthy of being loved, we give ourselves the freedom to serve them—regardless of whether they agree with us on every single issue.

Loving people well isn’t always easy. We are different. We are stubborn. We are opinionated. We are frustrating. And sometimes, we don’t think we want to be loved or that we are worthy of being loved—but the only thing we have in common is that, we have a deep seated need to be loved.

When people are convinced that they were unworthy, unqualified, or unable to be loved, they push it back at every turn. It’s not our job to determine when they’ve run out of chances. It’s our job to move forward, with open hands, and keep offering them love—even if they reject it.

People are worth loving well. The people closest to us. The people who are different than us. The people who are against us. They all carry God’s image.

Let’s do this one thing together this year: Let’s love others well.