By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
Happy New Year to you and your family! This ageless expression has been with us for many years. According to reports, the New Year was originally celebrated on March 25th. Then, the Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian calendar, changing the formula for calculating leap years. As a result, the beginning of the legal New Year shifted from March 25th to January 1st. So here we are in 2022, ready to begin new plans and new dreams.
Some years back, like many of you, I made some resolutions. Things that I would and would not do. Maybe unlike you, my resolutions only lasted for one week. In my defense, I had good intentions. Yet, as I am now squarely in the fourth quarter of my life and trying to get to overtime, watching people pass away in my generation is a bit sobering. We should not take life at any age for granted. As a young citizen, I probably took my everyday existence for granted. As a Christian, I have always known that we have what I call an “earthly lease.” However, as a young adult, I always assumed that my lease would be renewed. Perhaps I am on a month-to-month lease.
Thankfully, I have celebrated many birthdays. The keys for me have not been the gifts, ice cream, and cake. Do not get me wrong; I am appreciative of them. However, my blessings have been that I have pretty good health, and I still have my wits about me. Aging brings on health challenges, both physical and mental. My advice is that whatever quarter of life you are in, guard it carefully. To be more specific, watch what you put in your body and the company you keep because bad stuff and questionable people might mean an early exit.
Our 2021 and 2022 started the same way. We still have the Coronavirus. Spikes have occurred recently with the Delta and Omicron variants. No matter how we spin this news story, it is not good. Twenty-four-hour flash sales, parades, and celebrations cannot negate that we are in the biggest health crisis of our lives. The numbers are numbing, and the statistics are frightening. COVID-19 has taken over the world. We cannot pretend it does not exist. Not wearing a mask when in public puts your own life at risk. If you are going to be a part of a gathering, you better have some health and safety guidelines. In fact, if you are in charge of the event, you owe it to your guests to have some safety checks. If they do not like them, send them the YouTube video of the event.
According to Politico, there are some telling assertions out here. First, one out of every hundred Americans 65 and older have died from COVID-19. Second, the U.S. will hit one million deaths in the Spring. Third, at this time, only 33% of Americans have received a booster shot. Fourth, even though President Biden ordered a half-billion COVID-19 tests to send to people across the country, when ABC News’ Anchor, David Muir, asked President Biden last week about testing, the President said, “Nothing’s been good enough.”
The refrain has been the same regarding this illness. America needs to mask up, social distance, and wash our hands. More people need to receive this message and act upon it. We are in a dark period right now. Nevertheless, let us hope that the New Year shines the bright light of hope and healing. As Believers, let us go into our quiet places and say a prayer that God will answer our effectual fervent prayers.
