Freedom, My Word

Since I began reading blogs just over a year ago,
I discovered this idea

of choosing a word to pursue for the year.
This idea of year-naming,

I found it intriguing,

but wasn't sure if it was for me.

After all, I've resolved to make no more resolutions -

if I want to change something

or start something new,

then I'll just do it.

But there seemed to be something more to it,

and there seemed to be something

fun and adventure-ful about it,

and I felt this word, for certain,

calling me to pursue it.

I told myself, I don't have to pursue one word

for a year's worth of time;

I have the freedom to do as I please,

and I can choose a word for a period of time

that I deem necessary,

until I feel I've completely understood,

whatever was meant to be gained

by the word-pursuit.

This could be my word for now.

There, on a little street,

in a town where I go grocery shopping,

the word stood behind a window

of a storefront church building,

during my artist outing.

Can you imagine the excitement

and the enticement

from head to toe,

for this pursuit

of a word that represents

the deep longing

of my soul!?

The new year, after the Christmas season,

which is often a whirlwind of celebration

and bustling activity,

which is over too quickly

compared to all of the preparation...

it can be more than just a turning of a calendar,

the transfering of birthdays from one to another,

the new plans being made.

The new season can reflect the lasting,

after-effects of the end-of-the-year

celebration of Christmas

for all that it represents,

for the freedom and redemption

for the peace and the joy

that the birth of a Savior

has brought into the world...

For it was this window of a church

that presented this word and this image to me,

reminding me that there's more to life

than what my eyes see,

if I'll look further and follow

what's calling me.

To read more about my journey with Freedom this year, click here.

Here's to encouraging each other.

"Reminding one another of the dream

that each of us aspires to 

may be enough for us

to set each other free."

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery,

author of The Little Prince