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12 months
52 weeks
365 days
8,760 hours
525,600 minutes
31,535,000 seconds
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That’s how time is broken down over a year, displaying a year within each unit of time measurement. We’re already a day into 2021, and two days out of 2020! As the old saying goes: “Time waits for no one”. |
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The ancient philosopher Theophrastus stated “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend”. This statement goes up against another adage: “Just killing time”. |
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Twenty-twenty was one of the most unique years I have ever lived. I do not think I have ever had a theme/issue dominate my time and overall existence in such a way as COVID-19 has. And I wish I could say it’s over….but unfortunately it isn’t. We shall see how things play out with the vaccine: who gets it, who doesn’t, and its affect upon the spread of the virus. I received my initial vaccine this week, with the second dose coming in late January. We are receiving the Moderna vaccine. I do not know the details of who will be getting which type of vaccine and when they will be distributed, but as a healthcare worker who is visiting COVID-19 patients weekly now, I am very thankful and hopeful. And just a little soreness for a couple days in my upper arm. As I observe the horrible results of COVID-19: taking hospice patients earlier than they would have died from their terminal diagnoses, any risk of taking the vaccine is far outweighed by the risks of contracting COVID-19. On a personal note, we also have some family friends who just lost a father and who still have a 31 year-old sister on a ventilator. The seeming randomness of who gets the virus, who dies from the virus, and now those who are reporting long-term effects from the virus is going to fill medical journals for years to come. |
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This stream of information and unanswered questions leads me to one thing: how can I best spend the time I have in 2021? I certainly do not want to spend anywhere close to my 8,760 hours lost in the sea of anxiety-ridden news. I will pay attention as I need to for safety’s sake, but I want to live with spiritual goals and personal aspirations as my guide. I’m embarrassingly proud of myself for just sliding in at the end of the year deadline and getting a new pair of glasses before my vision insurance ran out! Squeezing that in last week has led me to an awareness of the need for regular, planned exercise in 2021. I believe I have been more sedentary (more so than usual anyway!) due to the quarantining and generally staying at home more in 2020. I simply cannot procrastinate and wait for the end of 2021 to start being more healthy! I have some other personal goals as well that I have written in my IPhone notes…I find that writing things down brings more commitment on my part. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”. This speaks to me for 2021—that if I have no personal goals and objectives, I will not be seizing the day, and possibly wasting time.
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With the fun and participation we had making the virtual Christmas pageant, I am hoping to continue our virtual life together with the children, youth and families. Via recorded Sunday school lessons, youth chats, blogs, shared inspirational podcasts and videos, and written correspondence, the Spirit will continue to move among us! The ELCA has lots of ideas and good things still happening around the globe that we can tap into! Stay tuned!! |
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I enjoy when different generations and diverse cultures merge together in music. The following duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie is a perfect example of a shared hope, as they sing “Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth”: |
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If you didn’t catch the Rose Bowl Parade show, which was unusual since there was no parade, you missed this lovely and inspired song, “We Are One,” performed by the group War & Treaty. I have included the lyrics below: |
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We have lost so much
It's hard to hold on without touch
But we can't let each other fall
So remember I'm just a call away
And we are one
We are one
We are one
And we are one
We are one
And the world is still so beautiful
Together we'll stand and not lose hope
'Cause we are one, we are one
We are one
Can't you see it all around
In every heart, love can be found
And we are one
We are one
We are one
When you're afraid
Together, we will fight here
You're not invisible
I see you holding back tears but I'm here
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
And the world is still so beautiful
Together, we'll stand and not lose hope
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'Cause we are one, we are one
We are one
Can't you see it all around
In every heart, love can be found
And we are one
We are one
We are one
And the world is still so beautiful
Together, we'll stand and not lose hope
We are one (we are one)
We are one (we are one)
We are one
Can't you see it all around
In every heart, love can be found
We are one (we are one)
We are one (we are one)
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
We are one
Together, we'll stand, you and me (we are one, we are one)
You're my brother, you're my sister (we are one, we are one)
We are one
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A Bible Verse for Today:
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
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Emmanuel Lutheran Church
7763 E.Long Look
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
PH (928) 772-4135 • FX (928) 759-3541
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