How a Word of the Year Can Make You or Derail You

Hello friends! Happy New Year!

I’d like to first apologize for the long silence. Writing a devotional book takes more time and energy than I ever imagined, even when writing with three friends. But it lays in the hands of an editor now, so I can finally breathe. And reconnect with you. Thank you for your patience. More details in later blog posts as actual production begins on— Graced: My Mess is not the Boss of me. 

On to today’s post:

How a Word of the Year Can Make You or Derail You 

I absolutely adore the Christmas holidays. Or the idea of it—built up in my mind with nostalgic images and eager anticipation. But truth be told, December flashed by like a high-speed train flying past 2019 into 2020. Most days I hung onto my seat for dear life, just trying to blitz from one stationed appointment or task on my to-do list—to the next. Other days I tried to exit the sleek railcar and be present, breathe deep, and wave goodbye to those still trapped on the train. 

But it never lasted.

Over the years I’d become addicted to head-long, pell-mell locomotion. And if you really look at the word—maybe “loco” reveals a true glimpse into my life. Loco-motion. Crazy-motion.

And fear kept me stuck on those rails in perpetual movement.

Every time I jump away from the track of work and all the “have to’s” and “should do’s” —it feels unnatural. More like taking a backward step away from the track to success—for what?

To embrace an endless path of scary nothingness?

To wander in a pasture of non-achievement? 

To become a wastrel of my most precious commodity—Time?? Gasp.  

But as Fear whispered these uneasy questions, my soul pushed up its own weighty quandaries. What’s important to you in the big picture? Do you really think you can continue this pace without refilling your tanks? Do you even want to?

How would you answer those questions?

So I’m going to listen to my soul. To a deep yearning bubbling up. My word of the year seems obvious—one that immediately popped into my head and stuck with all the tenacity of bubble gum smashed into the grooves of my tennis shoe—hard to ignore yet not easily dislodged. I am nervous to reveal it lest you see me fail again and again. Which is inevitable. 

But is that any reason to shun a word? If we choose an easy one, is that actually the best word for us? If we struggle to adopt the word into our lives—isn’t that what it’s all about? Adding a trait or discipline we don’t already have tucked in our wheel-house? Resolving to be better? Resolving to do better? Ok, I guess I’ve procrastinated long enough from the big reveal. You’ve probably guessed it. 

My word of the year: Slow.

Being derailed by my word of the year is the point. I need to be derailed. I want to be derailed. Do you need to be derailed by your word too?

For me, a driven overachiever, the word gives me chills. I dwell in the palace of high speed. How much can I squeeze into a day? I can’t even walk from a store to the parking lot at a leisurely pace. Apparently, “stroll” never reaches my active memory. I have to consciously tell myself to slow down—when I think of it—which is never. Just sayin…

I have a lot of work to do. 

But I trust in a God of grace who wants rest and the best for me. Do you?

God has told his people,

“Here is a place of rest, let the weary rest here.

This is a place of quiet rest.”

    But they would not listen.

Isaiah 28:12 (NLT)

What is your word of the year? Please share it in the comments.

What addictions/habits will you have to overcome in order to follow through with your WOTY?