December 30, 2020. Holiday Island, AR. It Was a (Very Good) Year

The song was popular and recorded by numerous artists after it first was composed in 1965 by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio. It was a melancholy song, highlighting life events at age 17, 21, 35 and in the twilight of life.
For many people, remembering the events of the past year, or further back brings back a flood of emotions, triumphs and tragedies, what-ifs and coulda-wouldas, joys and tears. But for most of us 2020 was not a year we think of as a very good one, but personally it was a very good one. Karen and I bought a house we can envision being our first real "home"; we spent a seventh season at a ministry we have embraced and we "survived" injuries, sickness and a pandemic which altered life as we have always known it.
Right now, although I am facing shoulder surgery, I am recovering from a leg injury caused by trying to save my first pickup truck from being injured, and I feel extremely fortunate to not have been injured more seriously or even killed. My whole outlook on life, what is really important, and what my purpose in this life is, has been altered by the events of 2020 and the 75 years God has allowed me so far. It's interesting that Bob Shane didn't experience 2020 as so many of us did. He died on January 26, 2020, five days short of his 86th birthday. He was the last surviving member of the Kingston Trio whose other members, Dave Guard and Nick Reynolds passed away in 1991 and 2008 (aged 56 and 75 respectively).
Remembering those times in our culture and being of the generation which listened to the pop, folk, and rock music and was impacted by it, I remember it fondly. I look at our current situation with caution and concern, but pray that we are truly going to see God orchestrating a future of hope, promise, contentment and joy, if we abide in Him, are led by the Holy Spirit to noble pursuits and expectantly awaiting the return of our Messiah in triumph and glory. Happy and Blessed New Year and Thank You Lord for what was, what is and what is yet to come.

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