Reflections on 2011
This morning I was watching Today Show and they did a really good piece looking back at this past year. It covered almost any topic you can think of from world events, economy, sports, celebrities, deaths, and it was beautifully done. I came away with several thoughts about the video and also about my own year in review.
The most striking thing that jumped out at me was how much chaos and trouble there is all over the world. The many conflicts going on in so many different regions and how they never seem to be resolved and continue year after year.
The natural disasters that happened this past year seem almost unprecedented with the numerous earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and droughts to affect so many countries and people. One could almost think the ‘end of times’ was marching quickly and everyone needs to take a look at their lives and how they are living it. It is an interesting ‘what if’ thought process when you look at what the Bible says and see these things coming to fruition in our time.
Our world’s economy finally broke down to showcase to the world and it leaders that man’s greed has to be dealt with to keep the banking and housing markets stable. I found it interesting that with all of the big companies pulling off massive fraud schemes that no one has really gone to jail for it. Bernie Madoff but that was a totally different situation as it highlighted many people hoping to get “something for nothing” and when all was said and done Bernie and his crew took it and never looked back at the people they swindled the money from.
In the sports world we lost many things . . . Trust being one of the biggest ones with the scandals at Penn State and the past findings of steroid use among many players in several sports among others. It is a sad situation where our national past times can be wrecked by the actions and lack of action by people within the different sports. Children are not safe anymore trying to play the games of our youth. Sportsmanship seems to be a word that looses some of its awe and wonder as kids today look at the ‘money & prestige’ that comes with playing sports and not for the love of the game like when we were children. We lost a few this year, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, Al Davis, Harmon Killebrew, and one of my favorite golfer’s Seve Ballesterous. A few weeks ago we lost Indycar driver Dan Wheldon in an unfortunate crash that possibly could have been prevented.
2011 was another crazy year for celebrities with the Schwarzenegger love child coming to light after all these years. We had the Bieber baby scandal or was it? Everyone seemed to enjoy Charlie Sheen’s meltdown which started out entertaining and moved quickly past ridicules to just sad how someone with a hit television show could get so full of oneself and throw it all way. Popular singer Amy Winehouse pulled a Janis Joplin and left the party early and the Michael Jackson death trial of his doctor Conrad Murray came to its logical conclusion with his conviction. He showed no remorse for his actions in facilitating Jackson’s repeated requests for more drugs. And how could we not end the celebrity look back without saying Kim who?
There were too many to list of those who have gone on ahead but some of the ones that have been around during my life and gave us pleasure over the years with their craft were in no particular order; Liz Taylor, Peter Falk, Harry Morgan, James Arness, and Andy Rooney along with those previously mentioned. Like many of us I lost several friends this year who will linger in our hearts and memories of the great times we had.
For a lot of people the year 2011 will not be remembered as a particularly good year as the economy has hit many with hard times. Work whether finding it or keeping it has been difficult all over this country. You tend to work harder for those lucky to have jobs and for those looking there is not much out there until the economy gets better.
For me it was a year of transition as my family is scattered all over the country with my children out finding their way in this world. I am proud of them all as they seem to be coming into their own with the decisions they are making and the paths they are taking. I have come out of a long relationship so finding my way has been quite different from what seemed so normal and expected.
I can hope for everyone out there that the New Year brings with it a positive, productive year with many blessings and joys that may not have come with this last one. Our hopeful confidence is that there is more to life than meets the eye, that there is a purpose to our existence, and that history is unfolding to its’ glorious conclusion.
May 2012 wash away the aches and pains of 2011 and with the winds of change bring forth a renewed spirit to each and every one of us and the lines upon my face are from a lifetime of smiles.
God Bless everyone and lets all have a great year!
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