Word for the Year

A spiritual formation bit of guidance I’ve taken seriously this year for the first time is from John Eldredge and the folks at Ransomed Heart: at the beginning of a new year, ask Jesus for a “word for the year”. It could be a single word or phrase or concept.
It may be directional. It may be prepatory.
It may even be a warning.
Either way, it’s meant to focus your attention and orient your heart, mind and even your praying toward what God is doing in, to, for and by you.

Over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday break 2017 I felt really pressed on by the thought of “Stillness in my (God’s) presence”.
It’s no top secret deal.
It’s definitely directive.
It is prepatory.
Though, there was no implied “or else”, it is a warning too.

There are endless different ways that thought could play itself out. Yet the very first thought over the holiday break was my need and willingness to take a weekday off from the work chase, trusting God will provide. As a commission based sales rep, every day matters. Sell or don’t eat—it is that real. The whole “burnin’ daylight” motivator, to get up before the sun and work until after it goes down, drove me for years. And, if I’m being honest with myself now, it’ll probably drive me on another day in the not too distant future. I regularly live like I HAVE to produce at all costs. Writing this now, it’s sad-funny that it really sounds like a faith deficit more than a stillness need.

So, the random day off has now happened more than a few times. But then a not-so-un-expected promotion arrived this past summer. A clearly-seen-retirement in the company ranks finally happened and I was positioned to lead the next chapter. But here’s the twist: there is a need to handle administrative details and work-from-home a bit more each week. Already the Mrs and I have laid out parameters and definitions for what a day like that requires of both of us. And in this new season I’m rediscovering 2 things: the stillness of early mornings and even the absolutely restorative properties of sleep—good, quantifiable sleep.

I’m finding myself increasingly more willing to lay down my “get-it-all-done-right-now” badge....but then that “one-more-thing” arrives, or the text chirps, or the recollection of a necessary detail dawns after all the devices are turned off, or...well, I’ll just say the pull of DO is always present.

But in seeking that stillness and clinging to it, when it is clearly in front of me, have led to things like...playing in the band at church a bit more. Wonderfully, in that constant metronomic click of a Sunday set list, there’s stillness. I’ve also discovered the stilling and restorative properties of Pandora (and that streaming service reminded me how incredible Michael Hedges was; look him up and you’ll get it). Almost nightly either the slow jazz instrumental channel or the Hedges channel filter through the house from the main television. And subtly the air around the main corridor of our house is soothed. At least I am.

And in those moments...a day at home, a night of getting extra sleep, a Sunday of playing at church, listening to soothing music throughout the day...in those moments, a deeper breath of stillness and soothing and calm have the opportunity to seep in.

Let me be Still today.
Come quickly, Lord.
Let me be Still.