As we are in the midst of the holiday season and the calendar shows us that it is December, we are reminded that the year is coming to an end. The Christmas season can become very busy with buying gifts, attending parties and getting things done on the to do list. In the busyness, it is important to take some time to slow down and reflect.

This time provides space to think about what has happened this year, the highlights and the low points. I like to do a quick Google Search for the word of the year, to kick start my yearly reflection. This year, however, there were apparently too many BIG words to choose from so, for instance, the Australian National Dictionary Centre published their full short list:

2020 word of the year shortlist:

• Black Summer: The summer of 2019-20, when catastrophic bush fires swept through south-eastern Australia.
• Bubble: A district, region or group of people viewed as a closed system, isolating from other districts, regions or groups as a public health measure to limit the spread of COVID-19. (Also found in compounds such as "travel bubble", "germ bubble" and "sporting bubble".)
• COVID normal: A state of adapting to an acceptable level of COVID-19 in the community.
• Driveway: Used in compounds referring to individual Anzac Day vigils in 2020, such as "driveway Anzac service", "driveway dawn service".

(Source: Australian National Dictionary Centre)

And, the number one word of the year here in Australia was… (drum roll).. ‘ISO’! I don’t think anyone is surprised.

One of hardest things to do as a Christian is to have faith that God is working, and to not be afraid of all the things that come our way. 2020 has challenged our faith immeasurably while simultaneously restored our faith in humanity.

I can’t help but instantly think of a verse from Matthew Chapter 6 as I reflect on lockdowns, pandemic, panic buying, zoom meetings and ISOlation:

Matthew 6:25-27  “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

I must say, returning from maternity leave last July was a beautiful blessing for me. Schools plodded on; not shutting down or even slowing down! It was amazing to be back in the hustle and bustle, to be purpose driven, mission focused and surrounded by our fantastic students.

So as I look back and reflect one last time this year, I will remember mostly the mundane, least obvious events that up until last July, I took for granted: my yard duties, staff meeting prayers, class liturgies, being in one busy ADMIN office, peaking through the shade cloth to check how far the building process is, spending Friday afternoon (attempting to) read a story to our reception students and finally giving up and just letting them lead the time, enjoying their antics.

I invite you to find the many grounding moments of 2020 and cherishing them. I also invite you to embrace the hard times of this year… so many… and to hand them over to God who will give you wisdom, resilience, perseverance and strength in return.

Sending you many blessing for the Christmas period. I hope you have safe and happy holidays. Thank you, St Joseph’s School community, for your immense heart and soul.

Regards,

Christine Farrugia

APRIM