Today, February 22, 2022, is a unique day. Yes, 2/22/22 is a palindrome, meaning it can be written the same way backward or forward. Palindromes are not that unusual. In fact, I believe we had more than 20 such dates last year, and we have already experienced one this year – 2/2/22.
But even more unusual, today is a Tuesday as well as a two-centered palindrome. So, schools and businesses around the world are having little “Twosday” celebrations in honor of this curious date.
Some schools are having all kinds of fun activities today. I have seen schools and daycares allowing kids to pair up and dress alike for “2sDay.” To go with their fun, some classes are even using special books that feature twins or pairs to go with their fun. Obviously, math teachers are planning all kinds of learning fun with the number 2.
I have even noticed certain schools that have made “Happy Twosday!” t-shirts for the day. But 2nd grade teachers are knocking it out of the park with décor, lesson plans, and fun activities for their special 2 kids. One of my favorite t-shirt ideas has to be the “Happy Tutu Twosday!” shirt, featuring a dragon wearing a tutu to go along with Adam Rubin’s book Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel.
And that leads me to our little corner of the world here at AFA. Like some many other workplaces, we are having a Taco Twosday Extravaganza, which means we will be enjoying tacos and all the fixings by the time this blog posts.
But what’s the big deal? Why has this date captivated so much attention?
Granted, I am not a psychologist or an expert on human behavior, but I think the answer to this question is obvious. The world is sick and tired of lockdowns, mandates, isolation, and the discussions about all the aforementioned atrocities.
It is no secret that we have all experienced the reality of this time in history, and most of us have lost someone or something dear during this pandemic. But we are ready for life to resume and get back to things as near to normal as possible.
Simply put, we are ready to get back to living. So much so, that we are looking for any and every excuse to celebrate life – even if that means turning a run-of-the-mill Tuesday into an international taco party.
This spontaneous, worldwide celebration also reminds me of Psalm 118:24, “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Also, the story of Paul and Silas found in Acts 16 speaks to me about this time in our world. Of course, the last two years of pandemic can in no way compares to being imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. But we can learn a big lesson of finding joy in the midst of trials, especially from these two verses, 25 and 26:
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
Wow! Beaten, bruised, and chained to a wall, it would have been easy for Paul and Silas to have had a pity party. But instead, they had a spontaneous time of praise and worship. Then, lo and behold, their chains were miraculously broken, and they were set free.
Of course, we also know the rest of the story. Paul and Silas used their freedom to reassure the jailer they were not leaving. As a result, they were even able to lead him and his family to the Lord. In essence, their broken chains served as a pathway to see more chains fall away – the chains of sin and its eternal consequences for an entire family.
Before it was over, the jailer washed and dressed the wounds of his captives, and then, he had his own celebration over his new-found freedom in Christ.
Talk about a two-for-one, double blessing! Just imagine how the jailer and his family worshipped gratefully alongside Paul and Silas. Maybe we might even look back and mark that day as the first “Twosday” celebration of all time.
And as we reflect on this story of Paul and Silas, let’s take a moment to stop and celebrate that same freedom we have through Jesus. Let us pause and give Him praise and worship for saving us from our own sins. Without Jesus, we would all still be in bondage to our sins, and we would not have the hope of eternal life in heaven.
Truly, that is more than enough reason to celebrate, my friends. So, go ahead and have a taco or two in honor of this unique palindrome date. After all, this truly is a day the Lord has made, and we only get one chance to rejoice and be glad in it.
Therefore, with a happy heart, I say, “Happy Twosday to You Too!”
