Word of the Year

I've been hearing about this idea lately from several different places, and I'm kind of intrigued. It's picking a word for the year. One grounding word that will be a touchstone to come back to throughout the year when you need inspiration or just a reminder of what is true.

I came up with a short list of words that would have all worked well and all seem to have the same general theme, but the one I couldn't shake loose was "Look." I've had this nagging suspicion lately that there is more than meets the eye in the world around me. Like maybe I'm missing something. A hidden beauty. Some glory disguised. Things that, if I looked at them differently or observed them more closely, I would see them as they truly are.

I don't think it's a coincidence that this is one of the key themes to the young adult novel I'm working on, which by the way, I'm hoping to have 50,000 words written by the end of January. Yikes! So, there likely won't be too many blog posts this month. (If anybody wants to shoot me a text or an email for accountability to meeting that goal, I'd appreciate it...I think.)

Sometimes my eyes get blurry. Sometimes I forget that life and love and creativity are all right in front of me. Sometimes I forget to seek it out, to seek God out. You'd think if I wanted something so badly, I would remember it. But that's the funny thing about engaging in "life abundant." There is immense freedom. We are not coerced.

And so when I lose my way this year, as I am prone to do, I will try and remember to return to the present moment. To lean into the truth of God's presence in that moment. To open my heart, soul, mind, and body to the possibilities of what might actually be. And to LOOK.