Welcome to 2021! Indeed, contrary to predictions and expectations, scientific and prophetic, 2020 was a difficult year in several respects. The colours of this year were undesirably gloomy, fear and death almost replacing faith and hope. And we are yet to be rescued from the ravages of the pandemic.

If anything, 2020 has taught us that despite the advances in science, technology and culture, humans can be such vulnerable that they will succumb almost defenselessly to a fragile virus. This is a limitation we have had to recognize.

Let us thank the Almighty for His mercies, even for 2020! With Him, there is “a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11), so we can walk confidently into 2021 with the assurance that “the God of hope” will fill us with “all joy and peace” (Rom 15:13). But we also have a part to play in making 2021 a fulfilling year. Let each of us consciously seek to build smiles on people’s faces and serve our communities in ways that will help us forget about the woes of 2020.

I wish every member of the Valley View University family the best of 2021.

Shalom!