At the end of 2013, I gave up New Year’s Resolutions. Instead, I adopted a Word-for-the-Year approach to enter a new year with intention and focus on who I wish to be more than what I hope to accomplish.
2024 is my 10th year. However, the past two years were so overwhelming that I never chose a word for the year. By the time the end of the year came around, I had nothing left with which to choose one. If one assigned words after the fact, those two years would claim “grief” and “survive” as their descriptors.
I’ve taken a few days to rest and reflect as the year ends. This is one of my favorite seasons as I welcome the rhythm of putting the past year to bed and waking to a fresh new day. I’ve deep cleaned the house, organized files, replenished supplies, purged the unnecessary, and read productivity blogs and books, all while praying and meditating on my word for 2024.
But no word has found me.
As the hours wind down on 2023, there is an unease at this loose thread on an otherwise tidy ending.
But is it really tidy?
I’ve controlled all I can these past few days, and I’ll admit, it feels good. Real good. But when I’m honest with myself, it is fragile and deceptive. As soon as the calendar turns to January 2, the world will start spinning again like an old merry-go-round whose lights flicker as the music slowly resumes its speed. The world never ceases, even if I have momentarily.
If my peace is found in control, then 2024 will bring me disappointment.
If my peace is in Christ, 2024 can bring whatever it brings, and I’ll still be at peace.
I still believe in living with intentionality and purpose. I think it is important to live with the end in mind – what you want people to say about your one wild and precious life. But maybe the gift of age is the realization that it has far less to do with what you accomplish than who you choose to be. And I believe it all comes down to love.
Do I believe God loves me?
Did I love others as God has loved me?
If I can abide by these two things, I’m free to let life unfold as it unfolds. Life is chaotic sometimes, but I know what God can do with chaos, which can be beautiful. If we try to control everything in our lives, perhaps we rob ourselves of the beauty God wishes to create for and through us. Perhaps the mess of life is simply the compost under which new things are nourished and grown.
This time of year, our emails and social media feeds are full of false promises about what will make us feel more loved, happy, secure, and worthy. But friends, there are no resolutions, words for the year, or goals you can set that will make life less uncertain or make you more loved than you already are in Christ.
I love Nadia Bolz-Weber’s blessing for us in the new year:
May you just skip the part where you resolve to be better, do better, and look better this time.
Instead, may you give yourself the gift of really, really low expectations. Not out of resignation but out of generosity.
May you expect so little of yourself that you can be super proud of the smallest of accomplishments.
May you expect so little of the people in your life that you actually notice and cherish every small, lovely thing about them.
May you expect so little of the service industry that you notice more of what you do get and less of what you don’t and then just tip really well anyhow.
May you expect to get so little out of 2024 that you can celebrate every single thing it offers you, however small.
Because you deserve joy and not disappointment.
Nadia Bolz-Weber
I’m not saying the Spirit of God won’t still reveal a word of the year for me. The tidy me wants it by 11:59 pm. The trusting me realizes all will be well whenever or if ever it arrives.
Either way, I know the word of my life, and that is Love. May you and I believe and know we are deeply and unconditionally loved by God, and may we love others as we are loved. Knowing and living this is the very best way to enjoy this merry-go-round ride we call life. So, hang on! I’m on the next horse over, my friend.
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