I haven't come up with a word of the year yet, or a saint. (I tried the Saint Selector that Jennifer Fulwiler has, but I didn't feel called to the saint that was selected.) But, in seeking those things I have spent some time reflecting on my life and where I have gone down the path the leads to nowhere and where I have come out in sunshine. I am hoping within this reflecting, an idea, a word, a plan for the year will be spoken by God into my heart.
The end of last year was about saying "no." It was about closing doors and quitting things. It was about selectively deciding what to add and what to subtract. (I was never that good at story problems, so this has been hard.) I am not sure that I have it "right" yet. I am still seeking.
But, I do know that in the absence of some of the activities that had become my "life" I have found more of myself. I didn't even realize how busy I had become with all the busy-ness. There were times when I worked all day and fit in 3 meetings after work, some of which I led. I have had physical limitations and illnesses and yet I forced myself to keep going to meetings and doing all the usual things. I am trying to be over that. If everything shuts down because I am not involved, then so be it!
I am 60. I am slowing down a bit. I can't run around like a 30 year old or even a 50 year old and not feel the effort. At 60, perhaps it is time to take stock and figure out who I am and who I might be in retirement years. Perhaps it is time to take a deep breath, stop being pushed around by the opinions of others and listen to the call of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I haven't yet come up with a word of the year. I have tried out "reflect" or "cut" or "play" and those don't speak to my heart. I will keep listening. Perhaps this is a year without a word. I am keeping St. Peter, patron of bad feet, and St. Albert, patron of scholars and the whole communion of saints just in case. But, I have figured out that it up to me to make whatever comes my way this year the best that it can be. I can do that by trusting in God's plan for my life.
The end of last year was about saying "no." It was about closing doors and quitting things. It was about selectively deciding what to add and what to subtract. (I was never that good at story problems, so this has been hard.) I am not sure that I have it "right" yet. I am still seeking.
But, I do know that in the absence of some of the activities that had become my "life" I have found more of myself. I didn't even realize how busy I had become with all the busy-ness. There were times when I worked all day and fit in 3 meetings after work, some of which I led. I have had physical limitations and illnesses and yet I forced myself to keep going to meetings and doing all the usual things. I am trying to be over that. If everything shuts down because I am not involved, then so be it!
I am 60. I am slowing down a bit. I can't run around like a 30 year old or even a 50 year old and not feel the effort. At 60, perhaps it is time to take stock and figure out who I am and who I might be in retirement years. Perhaps it is time to take a deep breath, stop being pushed around by the opinions of others and listen to the call of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I haven't yet come up with a word of the year. I have tried out "reflect" or "cut" or "play" and those don't speak to my heart. I will keep listening. Perhaps this is a year without a word. I am keeping St. Peter, patron of bad feet, and St. Albert, patron of scholars and the whole communion of saints just in case. But, I have figured out that it up to me to make whatever comes my way this year the best that it can be. I can do that by trusting in God's plan for my life.