Happy New Year wishes from The Bulletin!
2020 ended with a spectacularly beautiful full moon. From where we live, I could see the lights of Emzinoni and Bethal to the south and Morgenzon to the North East.
I stood outside watching the moon (towards Emzinoni/Bethal) and I saw fireworks in the sky.
This was strange as no fireworks were permitted by the municipality this year. It was also after nine, so curfew was already in place.
Also read: Fireworks: Human fascination – Animal nightmare!
It symbolised 2020 for me. While God was still in control and showing his wonderful world to us there would still be those that would defy every effort to curb the spread of the pandemic.
2020 was a particularly difficult year for us. The economic impact that COVID-19 brought about, devastated thousands of businesses and employees. The country’s economy took an even deeper nosedive and South Africa is now in deep, deep trouble.
We have lost friends to this wretched disease that now plagues the world. In December alone, I was personally affected with the news of three people that succumbed to COVID-19.
This brings me to the fireworks that I saw last night. I must say that I do not like wearing a mask. I do not like to sometimes struggle to breathe, especially after a little bit of exercise (climbing stairs as an example).
But those that of us that are concerned about the pandemic oblige and keep to the regulations. Then there are those that would rather set of the fireworks.
Kyk ook: Kruik Oujaarsdiens 31 Desember 2020
This is how 2020 have been to me. Choices about what mask to wear, not if I am going to wear one. Choices about going to large gatherings or not. There are many instances where wearing a mask made reporting very difficult, but we still chose to stay within the limits as far as possible. We even removed our masks at times as the masks would obscure the voices of people, much to the annoyance of some of our readers.
Let us then take lessons from the year 2020 and build on it as we enter 2021 within a new lockdown.
Let us all try and make South Africa safe again.
I awoke this morning with a strange feeling about the new year.
Gone is the excitement that normally accompanies the first day of the year. Gone is the expectations of a “Prosperous New Year”. Gone are all those “New Year’s Resolutions”.
2021 promises to be a year of challenges, of difficulties and I am sure, more hardships.
But it also promises to be a year of miracles, kindness and compassion. A time to care about our fellow man and a time to make a difference in the communities around you.
It is also an ideal opportunity to reaffirm your relationship with God.
In the movie Evan Almighty, Morgan Freeman plays the character of God. When Evan’s wife decided that she cannot cope with his strange behaviour and change, she left him. Morgan spoke to her in a diner and said the following lines:
“Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”
This is my wish for every one of you for 2021. Let us use our opportunities to be patient. Let us use our opportunities to be courageous! Let us make God our anchor again and let us love our families again!
Thank you for your support during 2020!
With your support The Bulletin continued to grow during the past year and with your support we will continue to do so in 2021.
Happy NEW YEAR!
