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January 12, 2021   |  News

Camden Branch - 2021 and Beyond by Lennie Beamon

What we have become accustomed to and what we thought we knew is challenged in ways unimaginable.

Little did we know that the year 2020 would be something less than perfect as the once-revered 20/20 vision we have become familiar with. The past year being less than perfect is a severe understatement as “the event” put the world in a stranglehold. “The event’ is what we will call the situation that has dominated the eyes and minds of humans throughout that year to give us a break from the scientific name. The start of this new decade brought many new norms in how we interact across all mediums. Millions of people scrambling to adapt while longing for what was. So many of us found ourselves isolated from friends and family. On the flip side, some of us found ourselves sheltered with family for extended periods (the latter being unpleasant for some). Social distancing and masks have exasperated these mandated boundaries to the point of hostility for some. Scarcity, economic strife hits us all globally, leaving the survivors mentally and physically exhausted.

Beginning Anew

Despite this, 2020 opened many of our eyes and taught us that much of what we have seen has far more cracks and flaws than we initially thought. Rather than see this as a darkness that has fallen on us, let’s see this as enlightenment. The times before “the event” was the real darkness our eyes have adopted. We now have a better view of how to improve ourselves and, in turn, lend a hand to improve society at large. One could write about the scientific data regarding losses of life, resources, political strife, etc. We will not do that here because if “the event” made some of us miss and appreciate other people (and things) we “thought” we could never stomach nor appreciate, then there is hope for human decency and unity through times of hardship. Again, the 20/20 vision was never perfect, but the year 2020 gave *some* “blind” people better clarity for the endless potential we have to rise above the turmoil. That said, the new year won’t be perfect, and we have a ways to go to reach a level of solace. There are visions greater than 20/20, and with a little decency and diligence from everyone, we have the capacity for a better year in 2021. That is “the vision” and “belief” we all can and should adopt going forward.


INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT:

The pandemic has been tough but there has been some good to come from it. During this time, we have been able to pause and be reminded of the small things, which we may have taken for granted. It has allowed us to take inventory on what’s really important versus what have been bonuses in our lives.

After the pandemic my hope is to see more people living with intention. It is my prayer that when this is over that the people we have longed to visit will be the first to see our smiling faces, the birthdays we have longed to celebrate will be done while surrounded by loved ones, the businesses we have longed to start will come to fruition, the trips we have longed to take will be planned, and the hugs we have longed to embrace will be there with open arms.

Intentionality can be our driving force if we set our eyes on what and who is important to us while waiting with expectancy for days to come.


MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

“HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS NOT HE KNOWS NOT: HE IS A FOOL-SHUN HIM. HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS HE KNOWS NOT: HE IS SIMPLE-TEACH HIM. HE WHO KNOWS AND KNOWS NOT HE KNOWS: HE IS ASLEEP-WAKE HIM. HE WHO KNOWS AND KNOWS HE KNOWS: HE IS WISE-FOLLOW HIM”.

FAVORITE BOOK:

Diary of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

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Canton, MS 39046
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