Reverence {#OneWord365}

I’ve heard the idea for several years…pick one word for the year.  And I’ve thought:  that’s a nice idea, maybe someday I’ll do that.  But I’ve never actually picked one.  This year I’ve been encouraged by Amy’s post on Velvet Ashes to quit making excuses…or thinking I’ll do that some day…or not wanting to do what everyone else is doing…and just pick one.   So here it is my word for 2015…

Reverence

Webster defines it as:  Reverence:  honor or respect felt or shown, profound adoring awed respect.

I know it may seem like a strange, old-fashioned word.  My siblings are always pointing out my love of unusual words {If there’s a simple way to say it, I tend toward the more verbose option.  The lengths of the posts on this blog would probably tell you that too}.  Maybe it’s fitting that I choose to reverence my love of words by picking this one.

So…back to Reverence. I love this explanation from IgnatianSpirituality.com

I could use a little more reverence in my life.  I am a fast paced, driven person.  I love to get things done.  I love to explore the next thing.  And while that’s a part of who I am…I’m feeling drawn to another side of who I am.  The side of me that is yearning to reverence.  The part of me who wants to honor, respect, cherish life…in little ways everyday!

I’m choosing this year to make space for reverence in my life.  For me that probably won’t look like altering my focused tendency, but giving myself permission to feel more in the midst of doing.  Permission to relish the mystery of life and embrace my humanity.

Why am I sharing this on a blog about re-entry and reverse culture shock?

Because I think the season of reverse culture shock is one of the best times for reverence.  For honoring the uniqueness of the story that is being written in our lives.  To relish the mystery of God and the mystery of how difficult season make us who we are.  For acknowledging our physical and emotional limitations and honoring them.  For celebrating the little victories in life.

Starting this blog is also teaching me about reverencing my reentry journey.  To reverence the complexity and mystery and pain and beauty of it all.  To walk away from shame.  To be brave in sharing.  To reverence who I am becoming…

I like the idea of reverence because it leaves room for mystery and complicated.  It does not offer easy answers and doesn’t put life in a box.

So…it also seems like a fitting word for us as we journey together this year:  each on our own re-entry journey.  That we would reverence something that is bigger then ourselves that is happening inside of us.

Here are some of the things I want to make space for in 2015:

Reverencing Myself.

I’ve been reminded recently “to be a saint is to be myself” – Thomas Merton

…honoring the individuality of who I was created to be, and not who I feel like others want me to be.

….honoring my story.  Trusting there is purpose in it.  Cherishing the individuality of it.

…honoring my personality.  Making space for my introvert nature.

…acknowledging my limitations.  Reverencing my body’s need for balance and rhythm.

Reverencing those Around Me.

…cherishing and truly listening to the stories of those closest to me.  Taking time to ask good questions.  Putting down the cell phone and reverencing being together.

…honoring the individuality of the people in my life.  Accepting them for who they are and not who I wish they would be.

Reverencing my Creator.

….reverencing the sacredness of our relationship.  Choosing to invest in that relationship.

…reverencing creation around me.  Making space for what they can teach me about God.

…reverencing that intimacy with Jesus looks different for every person.

Reverencing Life.

…celebrating the little things.  Having fun!

…embracing today as a new day to be lived fully.

Reverencing Time.

…acknowledging that change takes time.

…reverencing the seasons where we are meant to live in obscurity and do the mundane well.

…honoring that there is a time for everything.

…respecting a time-table larger than my little world.

So that’s my word for 2015!  What is yours?