As the ringing of the New Year has begun to fade, like the
sent of fresh pine from a once crisp Christmas tree, the excitement has settled, just as the confetti has. The
thrill for many of a new beginning has dissipated into the grind of every day life. With
resolutions quickly muffled by the overpowering tasks accumulating on our
to-do lists.
While for others, however, the resolutions made, the one or
two of maybe a handful have stuck. The New Year is their canvas, blank
page, a fresh start and they are still riding the horse tall and proud,
determined to make the long journey ahead.
I’d have to place myself in the in between. To me, the New
Year resembled another week, with the open offer to start anew. And while I’ve
mentally formulated resolutions for myself in the coming year, what has truly
enveloped my motivations for 2015 was choosing my word for the year. A word to
define the next 365, well at this point 360, days of this year.
Coming to my word was not simple. I did not shuffle through
Barnes and Noble in pursuit of one of the remaining printed dictionaries, to
quickly open to an arbitrary page and with my eyes squeezed shut, point to a
word. Unfortunately, it was much less adventitious. It was a process. A process
of great thought and quiet prayers.
In contrast to the flimsy resolutions I attempt each year I
desired for this year to amount to something. To focus less on the results of
what I so desperately wanted and more on the formation. I spent time pondering
who I wanted to be and what I wanted to receive from this year, instead of what I could change. I faced my weaknesses, determining if I was brave enough to
define the days to come by them with confidence. The word ‘acceptance’ was
suggested to me, which left a sour taste in my mouth, as I was not going to
simply accept what 2015 held. To me acceptance felt like a shade of gray,
indifferent, distant and as if I was settling. I wasn’t about to settle. If
anything, my word needed to challenge my deepest being and bring definition and
purpose to my days. I toyed with ‘present’ and contemplated ‘confidence’ and
ultimately all these avenues led me to ‘embrace’.
So there it is, my word: embrace
I want to become the person who not only accepts what 2015
has to offer but embraces it. To embrace what I am given, the
circumstances, the opportunities, the investments and endeavors; the difficult
decisions, and the challenges, to allow each to mold me into a stronger person.
To embrace the
celebrations, excitement and simple joys each day brings.
I want to embrace
the Holy Spirits work in my life, the plans God has for me, and the unknowns of
trusting in Him.
I want to embrace
the person I am right here and now, not who I only wish to become. To embrace my weaknesses and shortcomings, using
them to empower my growth as an individual instead of tear me apart.
I want to embrace
my imperfections and in doing so find the beauty behind the brokenness.
To embrace each
day, being present in the moments.
So, as life swiftly picks back up where it left off and I
too begin to feel the anticipation lingering in the air begin to thin, I
embrace the yet to come and the potential for so much more.
I hope you too embrace all 2015 brings for you.
