Over 101 virtual meetings, at least 56 real meetings, over 20 Toastmasters meetings, over 20 medical visits and more than two months in hospital or rehabilitation clinic. What have I learned? Never give up.
It’s never too late. Don’t worry about what you can’t do, just do what you can.
Meetings video. Sometimes I just attended as an observer. Sometimes I assisted as zoom master, camera operator, evaluator or co-host. A few times I attended meetings with former colleauges. I could appreciate that the work I had done had actually resulted in something very substantial.
A large portion of our meetings were prayer meetings. In this Covid Pandemic year, I shed many tears as I joined with thousands of brothers and sisters all across Europe and the Middle East and even all over the world. As we joined the Rallies of Hope in the middle of the night, again the tears flowed as I saw the fruits of our years of labour. I saw heads of government and Ban Ki Moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations all congratulating Mother Moon. I thought of the times I was a closet moonie, not wanting anyone to find out “who I really was” and vacillated into longing for my supervisor to finally ask me a question, so that I could tell him what we really believe and do. Are those times really over?
My reflections have just begun. I pore over my photos and videos and edit various versions of summaries and overviews. I chuckle inside as I think of the lack of photos in the early days or the poor quality videos we took when I compare with what you can now do with a simple mobile phone.
Yes, 2020 brought us many unexpected surprises.
It has taught me to believe, to hope and to live in joy.
Yesterday I went to bed with the thought that maybe I even need to forgive myself for my sore legs and back. After all, I denied myself the medical attention I was told I needed many years ago. I thought I needed to work to support my family. I thought I would not get another job. Now I take the time and feel the gratitude, and yes, I take the medications too. But also the natural supplements. I’ve gone the radical path and had aggressive surgery with two knee replacements. Yet it really seemed like there was no other choice anymore. And I don’t regret it. I have the pain. I live with it. And I look forward to being pain-free. It’s just taking me a lot longer than it takes some other people. And yes, maybe that is because I left it much longer than others.
We’ve all got our back-pack of sorrows to carry. No need to point a finger at anybody else, or compare. Let’s do what we can, support where we can. Yes, I’ve spent more than a sixth of this year taking care of my health. That did not stop me from supporting my favourite projects. And thank you everybody who gave me those opportunities.
By the way, the book, Life and Eternity is ready to order at Kando Verlag. Johannes was also in hospital. So think about it. This book could change your life
So now I look forward to 2021 and wish you all the very best.
[…] year is drawing to a close. Typically, at this time of year, I try to reflect on the year past and get overwhelmed with processing details. I like to keep track and end up running out of time. […]