Can you remember where you were a year ago? As I went to begin writing this blog post I ran across a draft for a blog post I started in December of 2019. That unfinished draft talked about just how challenging 2019 seemed to be for everyone and how there was a collective hope that 2020 would bring some much needed renewal. It seemed to me at the time that the world was longing for a little bit of extra space in the margins of life during 2020; a little more room to rest and relax; a little bit more freedom from the burdens and responsibilities that seemed to be in the driver’s seat of our lives.

Of course we had no way of knowing what 2020 was about to bring our way, yet as I reflect on the huge chasm between what I had hoped 2020 would be and what it actually turned out to be, I can’t help but feel a bit naive about my expectations. That’s probably just my cynicism working to make me even more cynical in order to protect me from future harm. After all, if you expect the worst case scenario, you will never be disappointed or surprised. But my unhealthy coping tendencies will have to be left for another day.

As we turned the calendar to 2020 there was no shortage of 20/20 vision jokes, commentary, editorials, sermons, etc. It was as if the year had an inspirational theme built into it. Ironically, all this emphasis on vision, focus, clarity, etc. was brought to an abrupt stop when we were blindsided by the Coronavirus pandemic. 2020 became the year defined by a threat that many of us couldn’t see coming.

As the world witnessed the scenes from Chinese and Italian cities, combined with the ever destabilizing American political situation, the talk shifted from vision and focus to plagues and tyrannical governments. As schools and business shutdown and families stayed home to bend the curve, fears of massive systemic failures came to the surface. Without schools, churches, business, governments, and other organizations functioning as normal, there was a growing concern that these systems would collapse upon themselves. Society as we know it would cease to exist and anarchy and chaos would replace our civilized and ordered lives.

Those of us who are a part of certain religious traditions started connecting our circumstances with some images and descriptions found in the Bible; specifically the book of Revelation. Images of empty shelves, empty highways, and empty playgrounds all brought to mind scenes from movies and tv shows related to “the apocalypse.” Religious leaders took to various media channels to warn of impending doom, to declare the spiritual ramifications of the present moment, and even to celebrate this as God’s plan. People were looking for answers and religious leaders had no shortage of answers to offer.

As a pastor and as someone with degrees in religious studies, I’ve watched the religious and cultural dynamics at work with great curiosity and critique. 2020 began as a year with everyone talking about vision and clarity, but quickly moved to some discussion of apocalypse and the book of Revelation. The bible nerd that I am cannot miss the opportunity to explore the fact that the word “apocalypse” literally means revelation; the uncovering of something. Things that were hidden or unseen are now visible because they have been revealed. So in reality, when people said that 2020 would be a year of vision and clarity, they weren’t wrong

We often think of apocalypse as the end of the world and point to the language found in the Book of Revelation (also called the Apocalypse of John, Revelation to John, or Revelation from Jesus Christ) as evidence. But this results from a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the purpose of that book.

Apocalyptic literature like the Book of Revelation describes what happens when hidden things are uncovered. They describe what happens when systems, powers, and rulers that operate in the cover of darkness or disguised as good and benevolent actors are exposed as the self-serving, power-hungry, greedy, life-taking forces that they truly are. What happens when light is shined into the darkness, and all the corruption, abuse, and evil is exposed? What happens when we are given perfect vision and clarity regarding the self-serving motivations and dark hearts that make the kingdoms of this world operate?

The world shakes. Up becomes down. Those who have power stop at no cost to retain their power. Regular, everyday people are shaken and confused by the new reality that what they thought to be true about their world is not true. For example, what if we found out that an entire industry that we believed was designed to care for sick and vulnerable people actually perpetuated more harm on those sick and vulnerable people? What if what we believed and trusted to be actual healthcare are revealed to be systems that actually ruined people’s lives in order for rich and powerful people to obtain more wealth and more power?

Or what if people in positions of religious authority, who have been long assumed to be caring for people’s physical and spiritual needs are revealed to be deliberately and incidentally doing harm to those in their care as they seek to grow their own status, wealth, or position of influence?

Apocalypses do describe the end of worlds. They shine a light into the darkest corners of the kingdoms of darkness, name the evil found there, and then pronounce condemnation and judgement on that evil. The apocolyspe is an end of the world. It is the end of the world where that corrupted evil power runs free in the darkness. Its a battle between the present darkness and the new light struggling to be born. And those evil powers don’t go away gently. They have the levers of power in the present kingdom. The world is organized and structured according to what works best for them. But as evil power is threatened, and the systems no longer provide the protection and benefit to those whom they were designed to provide, we shouldn’t be surprised at how quickly the efforts to maintain those systems are abandoned and every effort is made to maintain power at all cost. This is why apocalyptic visions are always violent and chaotic.

As we draw to the close of 2020, I have spent some time in reflection, attempting to process and understand what the past year has revealed and uncovered. I do believe those who said 2020 would be a year of vision and clarity were right. We have seen so much. Things that were hidden or functioned in darkness have been laid bare for all to see.

So I want to take some time each week (I hope) to write about what 2020 has uncovered. As it stands right now I have 15 revelations on my list. These are things that I have seen for the first time or things that were made clear to me during 2020. Some of these things are difficult conversations about our culture or society. Some of these are about systems that don’t do what we believe them to do. Some of them are about our own weakness and vulnerability. A few of these may be religious in nature; others won’t be.

But the point of this is not to list out a bunch of criticisms in order to complain or attack. As we end 2020 and start 2021 my hope is that we can learn some difficult lessons from what has been uncovered this past year. Its one thing to go through a situation and survive it. Its another thing all together to walk through it listening and looking so that we understand the lessons to be learned.

2020 has been a year like no other. My hope is that the things revealed to us function as lessons that lead us to greater wisdom, deeper humility, and stronger community. I invite you to join me in this conversation as we look at our world, our lives, and even our own hearts.

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