2014's word

I thought is posted this already but I see I didn't. So here goes...

My word for 2014 is "move".  Anyone who knows me very well knows that this word will be a big challenge for me this year. I am more of a sitting and being person than a moving person. The word move has many meanings though and already this year, and it's only January, I've experienced some major movement.  I've already had a colonoscopy which means the day before was a major day of movement if you catch my drift. ;o)

On New Year's Day, for another example, I was at a friend's house playing games. I found myself at the far end of the table and every time I had to spin the wheel I had to get up and lean over to do so. All that movement was lost on me until my friend's daughter heard my word for 2014 and realized I had been moving more than anyone else during that game that day. She got a big kick out of that. So did I. Even when we don't necessarily want to participate in our word, God has a way of making it happen.  I love that part.

I also began a yoga class. I've never really done yoga. I've messed around with it a couple of times. Normally I'm laughing so hard I don't really get much yoga done so it will be fun to see how this turns out. But it is a form of movement and I'm excited about it.

I'm moving right on into 2014. I really am  excited about this word. I love the way God uses these things to bring us closer. Really it's inevitable. If God gives it to you it will be used in profound ways. It's a matter of opening your eyes and ears and heart to the possibilities.

Happy new year!

Moving On

I received this meditation today from the Henri Nouwen foundation. I've been thinking about it ever since. There is so much truth here.

Stepping over Our Wounds

Sometimes we have to "step over" our anger, our jealousy, or our feelings of rejection and move on. The temptation is to get stuck in our negative emotions, poking around in them as if we belong there. Then we become the "offended one," "the forgotten one," or the "discarded one." Yes, we can get attached to these negative identities and even take morbid pleasure in them. It might be good to have a look at these dark feelings and explore where they come from, but there comes a moment to step over them, leave them behind and travel on.

Have you ever gotten stuck in your negativity, poking around as if you belong there? Sometimes I think we don't even realize we're stuck there. I know because I've been there and done that. I thought that was who I was and there was no choice but to be that person. I figured that was my lot in life. After all that's where I came from and those were the choices I'd made. One time in particular when I was in a very difficult situation I desperately needed to get out of my mother actually told me, "You made your bed, now lie in it." She said that because she lived it. I really don't think she knew she had choices. We have no idea how our words affect the people we love. No idea. Ugh.

Luckily, in that particular circumstance I got the heck out of there. Today I know God led me out of a huge pit I'd jumped into. At the time I never gave Him a second thought. Today I am so grateful that He was there for me in spite of myself. I got out but I carried that bad choice and many others with me for years before I finally was able to let it go and quit poking around in them. Twenty-five years to be exact. I did let them define me. I finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. Bad choices are just that - moments in time where we choose wrongly. They do not define us nor do they identify us. God already did that. He identified you as "Beloved", "Accepted One", "Found", "Child" and so much more.

If you find yourself stuck in the darkness today I encourage you to deal with it and then step over it - into the light - leave it behind and get MOVing!! Travel on! If you need direction, email me. I will point you to help. This is a journey we're on and unless you've gone on to eternity you have not reached your destination!! There are places to see - people to meet - things to do! You can't do any of that stuck in a pit. Trust me. Freedom is intoxicating!! So get to forgiving yourself and others and let it go. You can do it!