Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle Bill Wright was succinct in how the Hunter might recall the events of this year in his Christmas message this week: "it could have been worse".
If there was one thing that has defined so much of the year and particularly the past few weeks, it has been hope.
In one way it has been hope in the sense of uncertainty, of faith that things will eventually change for the better as science hunted for a vaccine and case numbers soared ever higher. This was most pronounced in Melbourne and more recently the spike on Sydney's Northern Beaches. At the same time, it was hope for the simple pleasures we perhaps once took for granted: free movement, interstate travel, and even Christmas with our loved ones.
The hopes for a vaccine have thankfully been rewarded, with inoculations beginning to roll out around the globe. Those of us who hoped for these outcomes will forever owe a debt to those who worked tirelessly to make them a reality.
That said, it is crucial we remember that in so much of the world the pandemic rages on. There is no room for complacency, not even for the holiday season. None of us can afford to consider ourselves the exception to any of the rules that have on the whole worked so well to date.
In another sense, hope has emerged because so many have had less than usual to happily preoccupy the here and now. None have been strangers to events cancelled, lockdowns hemming us in and even prayer by way of bookings. In such times of upheaval the hope for change is natural and often sustaining.
Yet those of us who faced only boredom or disruptions are the lucky ones. The economic fallout has been brutal, and it cannot be forgotten that lives have been lost. For people in those situations, hope is most important. Tomorrow can always be different than today.
Christmas is often considered a time of togetherness, but for many it can also be perhaps the loneliest time of year. The pandemic makes it clear just how affecting isolation can be, and perhaps offers the perfect opportunity to make sure those around us feel their links to the community around them.
That, too, is in the spirit of giving that characterised Christmas for so many. Plenty will spend tomorrow heading to work, a sacrifice that deserves a moment of recognition.
Among them will be our police, who will not only watch the roads for the usual array of risky yet persistent behaviours but also intend to ensure the public health orders are observed. And of course, our medical workers will continue their vigil.
Whether you are celebrating with your near and dear or hoping you can soon reunite with them, we wish you a merry and safe Christmas. It will be unlike most, but it could have been worse.
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