Adventure.
Explore. Refine. Trust. Joy. Engage.
Relationship. Insight.
Focus. Kindness. Tenacity.
Renew. Transform.
Pursue. Persevere. Build.
Live. Brave. Free.
Faithful. Passion. Become.
Abide.
These are some of
the words that flooded my Facebook feed on January 1 as my friends, my family,
my tribe declared their words for the year. As I read their thoughtfully chosen
words, I was filled with hope and encouragement … and envy. Envy because I had no
word to share.
In the past, my
word as come to me so gently and so organically that I’ve hardly notice it
until it was on my lips. The words I have declared at the beginning of the past
several years have proven to be absolutely divinely appointed for the year that
followed. For instance, 2012 was a year of Surrender. It was also the year I
faced and conquered breast cancer. And 2015 was the year to be Available and,
it turned out to be, the year I quit my dream job to support my mother in her
time of grief. 2016 was the year to Ease-In as unimaginable opportunities presented
themselves to me.
Each year that I
have had a word, I have found direction and strength of purpose with this word.
It has been like a whispered promise and a lighthouse in a storm. It has framed
my year and reassured me in my decisions. It has also been challenged and
tested which has caused me to rise up with tenacity and boldness to stake my
claim in the promise of this word over and over again. Each year, my word has
been a gift but this year not so much. This year, the prospect of choosing a
word has been a struggle. Each word I have tried on has been too small, too
constraining, too limiting. No one word has seemed to fit this year.
In November, when I
was at Gather:Women’s day of prayer and vision casting in Toronto, I had a
mental image of cupped, open hands. Hands, not tightly gripping or grasping for
anything but, relaxed and open to an abundance of everything. I’ve not been
able to shake that image since. It’s changing the way I approach life, how I
view my place in the world. It’s also setting me free from a world of
‘shoulds’.
I have lived a
life full of should. I’ve done what I should, said what I should, felt what I
should, served as I should, sacrificed as I should. I have stayed silent when I
should, forgiven as I should, loved as I should and obeyed the rules as I
should. I have been all the nice, predictable, Christian-girl things I should
be and I have lived the nice, predictable, Christian-girl life I should. No regrets.
But now, deep
within, I can feel its time for something other. Something more than just all
the things I should. It’s time to open my hands, its time to offer my life, my
heart, my pen, my words to all that is beyond should. I want a life of abundance.
I want to surround myself with deep colors, rich fragrances and endless
possibilities. I want to be dangerous and fearless and legendary. I want to cup
my hands and feel the water, the earth, the wind and the fire overflow from my
palms and slip through my fingers. I want to be as the prairie grass on a
summer’s day … dancing in the wind yet rooted in the Source of my very life.
I want more than I
should and all that I dare.
I want a life of
strength and abundance and offering. I want words of healing and encouragement
and hope. I want actions of courage and peace and invitation. I want love that
is gentle and fierce and all-in. I want it all.
I want it all.
I rise up and call
it mine.
No one word but
all the best words.
Not for one year
but for all the years of my life.
Not just for me
but for all.
For all. For
always.
This is my
declaration.
This is my battle
cry.
This is my love
song.
This is my
heartbeat.
This is my hope.
All.
