For the past few years, I've been joining Ali Edwards as she chooses One Little Word to have as a companion for the year. My word for 2010, Simplify, stayed with me right up to the end of December, and it wasn't really until recently that I felt like I was truly walking with this idea as my focus.
Life is busy, and there has been lots going on which made this year feel very different than the way I thought it would feel. When I chose the word Simplify, I envisioned a life somewhat like the ones I see in blogs out there - something like what I see over at SouleMama's, for example. What I got instead was my own reality, and although it took me a little while to see it, my own reality is a beautiful and special thing. Once I saw that, I could begin to blend the idea and attitude of simplifying into the life that I have.
As I look into the year ahead, I see space and opportunity that wouldn't have been there without my goal to simplify. I thought, as I was planning and searching for my word for 2011, that it would be Create that would accompany me into this new space. That Create would fill that space that had been made, would give it purpose. Then suddenly, the word Rest came to mind. I read an online devotional which had this Bible verse at the top:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle [meek] and humble [lowly] in heart, and you will find rest [relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet] for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29
If you've ever had anything to do with the church you've likely heard this before, and I have heard this particular passage so many times, I had started to skip right past it, you know? When I read this, though, something about the expansion of the word "rest" (this particular version is the Amplified Bible) spoke to me in such a deep and meaningful way, I still can't put it into words. When I read that list: relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet, it brings tears to my eyes, I feel it hit me in the chest. And that, friends, is what I want for this year. What I need in this space. Rest. Just Rest.
Good. good followup to Simplify.
I've decided to pick a word for the year too! its Vegetables. yep, gonna eat more and maybe even grow some
Posted by: colleen | January 05, 2011 at 06:27 AM
Rest sounds utterly sublime. I hope your year is restful and divine.
Posted by: Carrie K | January 10, 2011 at 11:38 AM