From now until December 31st, we will be inundated with the year in review.  If you believe everything in the media, these news tidbits (fake or true) will be enough of a downer for anyone.  We’ll be more than ready to say goodbye to the old and bring on the new.

The media brought stories about wrongful arrests, police shootings, less respect for the law and placing all lives in danger.  We saw a political circus evolve into a show of force of a silent majority finally speaking up.  We saw a fierce stand to put an end to the Electoral College. We saw the demise of the Republican party as we know it.  Selfies were enhanced with sticks.  Fit Bits enhanced lazy life styles, fashion went even more extreme with less fabric than ever before and the word “surreal” became the definition of nearly everything.  I won’t talk about wars and rumors of wars, because they will always be with us.

Divorce became the norm, dividing families and the family unit is almost unrecognizable. Death continued to defeat life amongst the very rich and famous, along with just normal every day folks.    Death is funny that way – it makes no distinction.

We’ve heard about scandals, addiction at its highest rate, murders, rape, violent behavior.  We’ve seen those we placed in high esteem tumble because of narcissistic behavior – those we revered as leaders and role models succumb to  sins of the flesh – and an  upside down culture which has spread like wildfire throughout our nation.  This is the stuff we were accosted with on a daily basis in 2016.

In our own personal worlds, without the help of the media, we may have been laid off and are approaching that “over-qualified” age.  We may have lost a spouse or loved one – or perhaps facing death because of an incurable disease.  We may have lost our hearing, our teeth, our agility – due to growing older.  Some could be afraid of not making the grades necessary to get that scholarship.  Pressure, stress, emotions all play a part in every breath we take, but for those without hope – there is no motivation to enter a new year.  There’s really no reason to carry on at all.

We could dwell on all that negativity and wind up having a nervous breakdown over it, or become a victim of severe depression or possibly suicide.  Every year we look back and wonder how so much bad junk could fit into one little year.

Instead we should be looking forward – not just at the end of a year, but at the end of each day.  Each second we’re alive, God is giving us another chance.  Maybe He has it in His plan for you to change things in the world. Who knows?

The ending of one thing and the beginning of another is the perfect timing for us to look forward and wait – to be silent in the Lord and know that He is complete control.  Everything He does is part of His divine plan for our good.

Patience isn’t one of my virtues, but I’m learning.  It’s taken almost three quarters of a century, but I’m close to getting it.  God has a plan for each of us, even in our old age.