Present

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”     Exodus 33:14 ESV

One word.

Right at the start of the year, I noticed that a lot of people were talking about "One Word" as an alternative to the traditional concept of a New Year's resolution.  It was a compelling idea.  My Bible app even offered a three day devotional/Bible reading plan on the topic.  I went through the whole process, but I didn't get "a word."  I got lots of words - things that I'd like to see change, areas where I'd like to see God move, improvements I could make in my own life.  But I couldn't narrow it down.

So I scrapped that idea and just moved on into 2016, plowing through my usual New Year's routines.  I started working out more and trying to eat a little better... (This is not a "resolution" but it is a tradition.  Since I eat pretty poorly [or very well, depending on your perspective] from Thanksgiving through Christmas, by the time New Year's rolls around I either need a new wardrobe or I need to give a little more focus to my health!)  Usually I begin a new Bible reading plan at the first of the year, but as I was already in the middle of a fairly intensive personal Bible study, I elected not to add an additional reading plan on top of that right now.

But I didn't have "a word."  I had some ideas of what I wanted it to be...
"Provision" sounded good to me, because it seems like that's what I'm always asking God for.
"Abundance," because provision is "just enough" and I'm tired of struggling to get by.
"Free" came to mind, or, more specifically, "debt-free," as I really want to get out from under the burden of debt.
Rest. Trust.  Create.  Faith.  Write.  Go.  Health.  Home.  All good options, good goals, and all a part of my thoughts on 2016.

Interestingly, now that we are nearly a month into the new year, I have a word.  I don't think it's some magical "The Word" to take me through the year, but it is a word that seems to really get at the heart of what I really need in my life.  It didn't come with fanfare, but it came to my mind and brought with it a bit of clarity.

And the word is...

PRESENT

It's a word with a lot of definitions and a lot of potential applications.  And it's a word I struggle with.

I have a ridiculous memory.  What I mean is not that I have a really good memory.  I forget the important stuff.  But every detail of my mistakes and all the dumb things I've said and done... that's what I remember.  Ridiculous things - silly mistakes, words mispronounced, social awkwardness that probably didn't bother anyone but me.  But I can't seem to forget those things from the past.  And I often let those memories dictate what I do in the present.

I'm also a dreamer.  I have grand and glorious ideas of "someday..." and "one of these days..."  I've been told that I overthink things, and this is true, I'm sure.  I consider all the "what ifs" and "maybes" and empathize from every direction on every topic in every situation.  The result of that is that I often don't accomplish as much as I would like in the here and now. I am coming to realize that planning is only as good as the action it produces.  The dreamer in me often looks at what I'm doing as temporary... just until the next thing comes along, or until a better opportunity presents itself.  I use the future to console myself when things are not going as I would like for them to.  I'd tell you that it's how I keep hope alive, but really it's just how I keep from committing to the present.

When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He spoke to them about "daily bread."  Confession: I don't really like daily bread.  I want tomorrow's bread today.  As a matter of fact, I'd like bread for the whole week, month, and year.  Then (I tell myself) I could rest in the present.  And this simple bit of faithlessness illustrates why I struggle with words like provision, abundance, free, and rest.  If I can only make peace with the present, the "rest" will come.  

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.     Matthew 6:34 ESV

That's the present, in a nutshell.  

We live in an age when the future looks a little uncertain... Scary, even.  If we expend our energy in worries over tomorrow, we will miss the blessings of today.

So that's the word for today: PRESENT.

I can't really say that's the word for 2016, though, can I, since that would mean making assumptions about the future?  But it's the word today.  It's "daily bread."

Present.

...Just a thought...