My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

If your 2020 has been anything like mine, then you may been struggling at some points just to survive each day as it is. The good news is, 2020 is nearing its end, and we’re now beginning to reflect on what went right this year, and what we can continue to work on in 2021. I think it’s safe to say that no one expected this year to be quite the rollercoaster ride that it ended up being. From the Australian fires at the beginning of the year, to the COVID-19 pandemic that is still ongoing, to sparks that have flown in the air thanks to this year’s Presidential election here in the United States, it’s easy to point out what’s gone terribly wrong this year.

For myself, I started this year with the goal of writing and publishing one article a week on Hope, Play, and Love. And, for the most part, I felt I was able to follow through with that goal pretty well – it was consistent enough that I felt proud of that accomplishment alone. However, this summer, I fell into a deep funk as a result of the COVID-19 shut down our state was undergoing. I missed seeing my friends’ faces and creating memories to cherish. I missed being able to go on the road with family and visit surrounding cities and being able to explore. I missed the sense of normalcy that seemed to be taken away so suddenly – and I suspect many of us missed that, most of all. I thought I would be able to handle quarantine like a champ – I’m want for nothing with so much to do, and a homebody introvert to boot. Yet, I lacked the drive to follow through with things I normally enjoyed, even mundane activities.

Those feelings have ebbed and flowed over the past few months, and unfortunately this blog has taken a hit as a result of that poor mindset. There have been fewer blog posts as lack of motivation has clouded my sense of imagination to an extent to where I just didn’t know what to talk about anymore. I am thankful, though, that if anything I know I’m not the only one on the same rocky boat. Like many others, too, this pandemic has exacerbated feelings of anxiety and stress that have long resided in myself to the point where it was beginning to affect my health and day-to-day functions. Fortunately, I was able to share these health concerns with my doctor and am now taking treatment that will settle these feelings and calm my body down. After a month of doing so, I have to say I feel much better and more relaxed than I have been in recent memory. The treatment won’t entirely take away those thoughts and feelings, but they’ve become much more manageable and not as powerful as they were before. I can’t help but thank God for the medical progress he’s provided for us in this past century as He works through so many intelligent men and women in the medical field, working to help others through their calling. It’s thanks to them that I believe we’ll also begin to turn a corner from what has been a devastating pandemic, and I pray that they continue to create milestones that will in turn help us.

We’re in the middle of November, now, and I’m working hard to find ways to return back to the things I love – because uncertainty or not, I love to create. I love to write and share thoughts and ideas with others. I love to share words of encouragement and grow through my words and experiences. The motivation and drive to write and create has returned, but then comes the conundrum of just what to create, and for who?

2020 hasn’t been entirely all bad, though. I applied over the summer for an online graduate school program, and found out this past week that I had been accepted to begin in the Spring semester. That’s an amazing accomplishment that I can’t help but feel giddy about! I know adding one more priority to my plate will be a challenge with all that I already have to do on a day-to-day basis, but graduate school has been a desire sown in my heart for a few years now. Since it a Reading and Literacy program, my hope is that this will help me grow into a better professional in the position God has led me to and continue to serve others, while also growing as a writer and creator. As a result of this incoming priority, however, I know that my recreational and blog writing will become more much sporadic as a result of focusing on the rigorous expectations and work output I expect this program will have.

So, in the weeks and months ahead, updates will continue to be sporadic. I hope, though, that I can continue to serve my readers and share my thoughts on video games and popular culture through a Christian perspective. It’s safe to say that many people have turned to those things in these times of uncertainty and isolation. Now, more than ever, we need to really examine what we watch and listen to, because we’re going to be spending a lot more time doing just that. My hope is that I’ll continue to build a space where readers can find ideas for games they can try that will be a light in their lives, and films and shows that they can share with loved ones. Some of my recommendations may not be ‘clean‘ for everyone, especially for those with young children, but my thought is that there is some truth we can glean from most forms of media that have a distinct truth we can learn from that can lead us closer to God, our eternal and true source of hope and love. For those with families who want to share that experience, though, with something more wholesome, I am excited to continue to share my ideas and recommendations with you. I believe there is a lot we can take away from gaming, films, books, television shows, music, and art that can actually be beneficial for us. The key is to use wisdom when doing so, and I hope that my own thoughts are spiritually true and possess some of that wisdom.

I will continue to share what I’ve found that have made an impact with me that you may find you enjoy as well. I’m also looking forward to sharing guest writers and their own articles so that they may share their own stories with you. Stories are powerful and they are needed, now more so than ever. They connect us all, no matter our background, and help us continue to grow. I have been so encouraged by the people I’ve found and learned from through my writing. It has been a dream come true for me, and I’m looking forward to continue to pursue this passion.

In closing, I want you to reflect on what’s gone right this year. I know a lot in everyone’s lives have gone wrong, and it’s very easy to point out the negative and gripe. The truth is, though, there is both good and bad that we will face each and every single day. It’s easy to focus on the things that didn’t work out, but it’s harder to focus on what did work, and to find peace through that. I hope that you are able to do that, and until next time, please remember to act in wisdom, live in hope, and love all who pass you by, both on and offline.