7 funerals in 8 months! My brother survived an accident that paralyzed him from the shoulders down. That was his Sr Year, he was Captain of the wrestling team… I helped his girlfriend push his 400lb puff wheelchair up the graduation ramp and across the stage, because he just started to learn how to drive it with his mouth a couple weeks prior. Those were the big rocks, I do not have time to get into the medium rocks, and this was all before September 11th.
I had no news coverage. I had no public sympathy. I did have Jesus Christ though.
2001 prepared me for 2017.
When my wife bailed, life SuCkED. The fear that led up to that point had imprinted 27 different ideas on how to take my life, an action I never wanted and refused to act on. I was fortunate enough to experience 60 hrs in “The Unit” and squeezed a masters class in human psychology and illness into a 2.5 day-first-hand experience. Six lawsuits later, one including bankruptcy, I lost my business, found a new job, only to lose that job 18 months later… three weeks after the Bankruptcy finalized. But again, I had been through 2001, and just like before, I leaned hard into Jesus, and am overcoming.
Overprepared for 2020
Two decades following 2001, I’ve been overprepared for 2020. There’s been a lot of complaining about how horrible 2020 has been. I can understand those working through tragedy, but with heavy life experiences it’s tough to relate to those who aren’t, and yet still complain. My best guess is whiners and complainers don’t like to acknowledge reality: quite often, life actually sucks.
If you have lost someone this year, I truly am sorry. I understand the pain is real. I lost my 7 friends and loved ones in 8 months. I know the hope that will get you through another 20 years of life crap. 2020 is not a year to throw away or “get away from.” James the half-brother of Jesus tells us why:
(James chap 1 verses 2-4)
Cling to the source of hope, hope combats fear.