Ah the new year! The turn of time that inspires us or sometimes guilts us to reflect upon our lives, make resolutions to do better (does anyone ever make resolutions to eat more decadently?), and then carry on most generally as we were.
Several years ago, something I read somewhere – which I am sure I have carefully footnoted and credited somewhere else – recommended choosing a word as a theme for the new year. Now I like this idea much better than making resolutions that I either won’t remember to keep or just won’t keep. Let’s face it, if I really was going to lose weight, why would I choose to start doing that in the dead of winter when I need all my fat to keep warm?
Last year my word was ‘pause’. Actually, this has been my word off and on for several years now. Some of the most comforting words from God are “stand still and watch Me”, and ‘pause’ reminds me that I am not in charge of the universe, that God is all powerful and that sometimes I am not really helping much. Not that He can’t work around my efforts, but often my efforts preclude me seeing what God is doing.
This year I am still mentally wandering around thinking about my word. There are a number of candidates – all good candidates but none feel quite right yet. ‘Rejoice’ came to mind as I am very blessed in very many ways and because I love a good celebration. It is a hard word for me to consider; this past year has piled one thing on top of another. We’ve had too many deaths, too much just on the edge, always in the back of my mind stuff. Quite frankly I don’t feel much like rejoicing just now. Which might be a good reason to give ‘rejoice’ a chance.
‘Comfort’ has a bit more appeal, both as a noun to receive and a verb to engage. But it also seems a bit self-indulgent (the noun side) and on the verb side I often feel awkward. That might be a reason why it should be my word – stretching myself to grow in that area is not a bad thing.
‘Go’ challenges me to step out of my carefully protected world and try new things, see new things and perhaps answer God’s question of “who shall I send?” differently. The timing is fairly good as we become much closer to being empty nesters with two going off to college next year and just one still at home.
‘Believe’ in some ways might be my top candidate. No, my faith base is still rock solid and unwavering even after this past year. Jesus truly is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But there are some other things that I need to rest with Him about. ‘Believe’ has some overtones of ‘pause’ for me.
I have a few more days. There are no wrong decisions here, some are just right-er than others.
What about you? What’s your word for next year? Would love to hear from you, especially the why you chose that word part.
Happy New Year!
Just Sayin' 