Upon reaching the conclusion of 2020, it's a fitting time to reflect on the journey of this year, which I feel is represented in a significant way by this photo of me at the San Bernadino Amtrak Station back on the evening of Saturday, October 3, right before I boarded the eastbound Southwest Chief train.
While I can't remember which friend took this photograph, I know it was either Tyler or Roy.
Any notion of this year being special overall was pretty well dashed by the major limitations imposed by the pandemic starting in March throughout the United States and the world, unlike anything most of us have faced in our lives. Probably the pandemic alone has been reason enough for people to bandy around the idea of tossing 2020 into the trash can, and I don't blame them. In some ways, I think back to late December 2008 when Lester Holt, on a broadcast of NBC Nightly News, made a remark that surely echoed others' sentiments when he said people were ready to put a challenging year behind them which brought about hardship because of a major economic recession, even though it was also the year of a historic election. I'm sure others felt similarly at the end of 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Events in 2020 took the meaning of hardship to a whole new level in limitations that were so widespread.
But as I reflect back on 2020, I recognize so much good happened, and there were many blessings, and, on account of them, I wouldn't want to write off the whole year, even with the pandemic's limitations weighing so heavily.
Granted, I can say so because I was not as limited or affected by the pandemic as others. But I also think this way more broadly because of something I read in a statement that the pastoral staff at Valparaiso University's Chapel of the Resurrection wrote in response to their furlough during the summer break 2020. They noted that while it's difficult to be grateful in all circumstances, we can still find some reason to be grateful in all circumstances.
And so with gladness and gratitude for the goodness and blessings of this year, I offer this reflection on 2020, based on the Spanish custom of consuming 12 grapes on the occasion of the changing of the year. Like in all previous years I've done this "grapes" reflection, I don't necessarily aim to cover the events of the year comprehensively, or in any sort of ranking, but rather I reflect on this concluding calendar year with some of the major points of note.
Grape #1- celebrating Candlemas on Sunday: I should note this occasion is one example of the many wonderful experiences we had in 2020 before the pandemic's severe restrictions. Candlemas Day, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, is on February 2. I like this Feast because it reinvokes a sense of Christmas Day, 40 days later, and in the past, marked the conclusion of the Christmas Season. It was great that it fell on a Sunday in 2020, which gave us the opportunity to celebrate it with greater emphasis when gathered at Sunday Mass. I incorporated the celebration into my RE classes by purchasing small tea candles and having Father Hurlbert bless them, and then I gave them to my students as a small gift.
Grape #2- State Fair at Julian Middle School: I was so delighted that one of my favorite musicals of all time was staged at Julian, a story that resonates with me so deeply in a place that is so special in my life. It was notable to see it on stage after having watched the movie so many times, and I enjoyed the experience, which I shared with my family for a Sunday outing, back on February 23. I also knew some of the students in the cast, including one of the students I had in class for the 2019-2020 RE year, which added a notable touch to my attendance of the play. (Again, this outing was another example of something memorable that happened before the pandemic.)
Grape # 3- trip to Madison, WI: I was eager to get back to visit my friends in Madison, as it had been 5 years since my last visit there, since other summer trips precluded me from going there in the years since. I was glad to make one last visit there before my friend Tyler moved. It was also great seeing Arthur, and seeing my friend Matthew's house for the first time since he moved there. And even just going out for a weekend road trip into another state in mid-July was a nice opportunity after all the limitations imposed since March.
Grape #4- trip into southern Illinois and environs: I was glad to channel my yearning for a summer trip by exploring more of Ilinois, having been inspired by my travels for the recent Illinois Bicentennial celebration. Driving Route 66 was a marvelous way to reconnect with a delightful part US cultural history. And there was great nature to see in the Shawnee National Forest area. Upon returning home, I completed my longest road trip yet in Avila, over 1300 miles.
Grape #5- trip to Southern California and then some: I was so glad to go on this trip after waiting out two previous attempts that didn't materialize. It was amazing to visit Arizona for the first time, and to see the Grand Canyon. And spending time with Roy, along with Tyler and their significant others, in SoCal was fantastic.
Grape #6- the wedding of Rogenique and Roy on November 7: I am so delighted that Roy is happily married to a wonderful person, and that they have set themselves up for a life together of love for each other in the name of God and for the blessing of others. I am glad I was able to squeeze attendance at their wedding into a break at work that day. It was great getting to know Rogenique while I attended the virtual Bible study group Roy hosted, and then to meet Rogenique when I visited Roy about a month before their wedding.
Grape #7- Cale Clarke's programming on Relevant Radio: Cale started two new programs on Relevant Radio back in July, The Cale Clarke Show and The Faith Explained. He brings a very thoughtful and insightful approach to discussing matters of faith on both programs, especially talking about saints of the day on The Cale Clarke Show. His approach has a good deal of depth because after having grown up Roman Catholic and then drifting away to become a Protestant minister, he returned to practice as a Roman Catholic. His experiences greatly inform his ability to go in-depth with Roman Catholic beliefs. (These programs are two of many Relevant Radio offerings I have enjoyed. I was wistful about the end of St. Joseph's Workshop and A Closer Look, as well as Go Ask Your Father, but still grateful for the content they offered while on air. Trending with Timmerie also expanded its air time this year, and that program is excellent.)
Grape #8- serving as an election judge: I hadn't necessarily planned to be an election judge for the November 2020 election, but as the year progressed, I felt like the time was right to offer this important service to my community and country. It was once again another meaningful day of service.
Grape #9- beatification of Father McGivney: As a Knight of Columbus, it was very special to see the founder of the Knights recognized in such a significant way, and I was glad to watch the Beatification Mass live on October 31. The story of the miracle leading to his beatification is a great one, and speaks so powerfully in many ways to what the Knights are about. This Mass was a fitting prelude to All Saints' Day, and all that it means for us as people of faith.
Grape #10- summer fun in Chicagoland: I am pleased that the summer brought so many ways to get out. It was nice to shop at the Oak Park Farmers' Market from the summer into the autumn. I went on a great outing to the Chicago Botanic Gardens on August 22. We had a fine block party on August 8, which included a fun carnival with games. I enjoyed going to Hole in the Wall on a few occasions, including on opening weekend on May 2, and then on its closing weekend on October 9. And I really enjoyed going to Gina's, especially to have one of their new flavors for the 2020 season: guava.
Grape #11- family celebrations: It was wonderful to celebrate special birthdays for both my parents. I was also very glad for my cousin Sam Hines in Texas upon the occasion of his ordination as a permanent deacon. Abuela had told me a long time ago he had started the process of studying to be a deacon, but I had lost track of his progress, so I was delighted when Abuela received word that his ordination was set for August 15. It was marvelous to tune in to the livestream of the Mass that day.
Grape #12- vocational experiences: I enjoyed getting to know Kevin Ripley while he spent time as a seminarian assisting at Ascension, which included his assistance at Masses as a transitional deacon. I was so heartened when he was ordained a priest on July 10, and it was a blessing to see him a few weeks when he came to Ascension to celebrate Mass and to receive his blessing. I was also glad to have him join my RE class a few weeks after that in October: He did a great job sharing about his path to the priesthood and vignettes from his ordination Mass.
His appearance in class was one of many wonderful experiences in RE class for the 8th graders for the 2020-2021 year. After the in-person classes were suspended back in March, I was so glad to get back to teaching in October with a new group, although I was glad I got to do some virtual classes to finish the 2019-2020 RE year, and then have a wonderful prayer service for the 8th grade class of 2020.
As I planned what we would do in virtual classes for the 2020-2021 year, I figured I could seamlessly bring in guest speakers to share their experiences and perspectives on faith, and they have all done a great job. I have brought in people I have know from different times in my life. I sense that the students have enjoyed the guest speakers. But I have been greatly heartened to invite them, because it reminds me of how blessed I have been to know so many devout people in my life, which has been part of fostering an environment in which I have embraced faith more deeply.
In that spirit, I celebrated two 15-year anniversaries in 2020, my 8th grade graduation on June 8, and my Confirmation on October 15. Both occasions speak to how I have come to understand my calling to live a life with purpose in faith. It was special to start a new RE year 9 days before celebrating my Confirmation anniversary. That celebration carried over into the following weekend when the readings at Mass cycled back to the same set of readings from my Confirmation Mass. It was also a weekend when the Knights held a coat collection, and I was joyful to see so many of the 8th grade students helping out, and to spend some time with them as I volunteered.
I also marked 11 years since first attending Mass at St. Teresa's, which was an important part of my faith journey that led to my decision to teach RE. I am grateful for attending Mass at St. Teresa's on the actual anniversary, Sunday, August 23, and then to return a week later for Mass with Bishop McClory. I also had a fabulous time back at St. Teresa's in February assisting with the post-Mass dinner for the students.
Reflecting on 2020 as a whole, there is no denying that it was a year marked by heartache, especially because of the pandemic. I say this as a person whose life was affected because of limitations, but not necessarily impacted at the same level as those who were ill or died because of the virus, or who experienced other hardships because of it like job loss, or heartache over missed celebrations like the graduates of the class of 2020 at all levels of school. It has hurt to see suffering in all forms around me due to the pandemic, especially as I think about students who missed out on meaningful school activities, especially graduates, like those I know. I also feel palpably the emotions of those who pray to God that He will never again permit His people to be without Masses for weeks on end. And as if the pandemic wasn't enough, there was the flare-up of renewed tensions triggered by the lingering devastation of racism.
At the same time, I feel that this year is not defined by these heartaches. Ultimately, I am convinced it's defined by what's most important in life, which we can sense deep inside of us, which we discovered in new ways this year, even in painful experiences, which even lead rise to examples of goodness.
On that note, I think of Mat and his teenage daughter Savanna Shaw in suburban Salt Lake City, UT. When the pandemic suspended her choir's meetings, she decided to record a song, "The Prayer" for the group, and requested her dad join. Upon posting it to social media, it went viral, and soon they started a YouTube channel, posting recordings of various songs, which have all gone viral.
For their first album--they currently have released two--they performed a song they wrote themselves, "Picture This", which I sense is autobiographical in nature, describing how they became a famous YouTube duo. One line in the song says, "What if all we wanted is there all along", and I feel that line speaks to how 2020 has put us through experiences that cause us to look at what we already have and who we are, to value and appreciate it as the fulfillment of our deepest longings. Furthermore, they sing, "I'm taking myself the freedom to hear out/The voice that's inside of me". Those lyrics speak to the idea of vocational discernment, understanding what's deep inside of us, and how that is what matters most in life. (Please feel free to view the song video by clicking on the link for the title.)
Mat and Savanna Shaw are just one wonderful example of the good that has come out of the pandemic-riddled year of 2020. And I imagine that more blessings will arise from this year that have yet to become apparent.
Again, there are blessings that we can be aware of now as we look at what's right before us, which I acknowledged upon the conclusion of the 2019-2020 RE year, as I went to the homes of the 8th graders to deliver them gifts. In some cases, I was fortunate to actually see some of my students when I came to their homes, and in some instances, I conversed with them for a few minutes.
It was in such a conversation when I told one particular student, as a way to affirm her, that who she is cannot be taken away by the virus, words that speak to the powerful reality of who God has made us to be by faith. Shortly thereafter, when her mom asked about how I was doing, I started my answer in a general way, and then drew upon what I noticed imprinted on her daughter's shirt, the verse of Hebrews 6:19, about hope as an anchor for the soul.
We indeed have great hope in the blessing of the Great I AM, our God Who entered into our world in the Incarnation of Christ to face the same evils we do, and effected a glorious redemption, which reminds me of another song.
This past Christmas Day, I took time to really listen to the Casting Crowns performance of the Christmas Carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", which is slightly different from other performance versions.
Here's a live version:
Here's a version with lyrics.
I then read the story about the circumstances in which the song was written. To summarize, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in the 1860's, when the United States was engulfed in a terrible war, and in the wake of personal hardship in his family, which is summarized in the line "hate is strong and mocks the song". We could easily apply that line to the troubles of 2020, with the pandemic, riots, and a polarized sociopolitical environment, not to mention whenever has been happening in our personal lives and families. It all mocks the idea of "peace on Earth, good will to men".
But the next stanza speaks of the great revelation Mr. Longfellow had when he heard the bells on Christmas Day, and the epiphany I had when I heard this song. The bells, a symbol of the Good News we celebrate on Christmas Day, declare that "God is not dead; nor doth He sleep/The wrong shall fail, the right prevail/With peace on Earth, good will to men". In the Casting Crowns performance, one can hear the choristers repeating "peace on Earth", in an almost mystical way, symbolizing how that Truth persists in our world.
By faith, we declare that no matter what difficulties we face that try to mock our God, He is stronger and more powerful, and thus He deals a mighty blow to those difficulties. Ultimately, Christmas is a glorious celebration because by the birth of Christ, God demonstrates His ability to defeat all that is wrong, and to truly bring "peace on Earth, good will to men", something worth celebrating all throughout the year.
Drawing toward the conclusion of a year marked by, but not defined by, discouragement, I was immensely encouraged by this song, because it speaks to the reality I believe about God, which nothing, not even a raging virus, can remove from us. So long as we grow in and walk by faith, we have the blessed assurance of this unchanging reality, which is the same through all years, and in all circumstances.
Through it all, we remember our connections that demonstrate what matters most:
All my relations.
Thanks be to God.
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