Word 2019

In case you need a recap, my word of the year is something that I will focus on the entire year.  My decisions and every day will be trying to live out this word.  Let's look at my 2018 word SEEK.

My friend Courtney and I had the same word for last year.  We are supposed to get together at the end of the month to discuss how our year went with the word.  I remember telling my spiritual director, Fr. John, about my word last January.  He said, "Well, that's interesting.  If you're seeking that means it's not right in front of you."  I panicked a bit at that because when I thought of the word SEEK, I did take it as a religious meaning.  Was I not walking with God in my life then?  Was I SEEKing Him?  

It turns out that I was SEEKing a few things.  I found what my relationship with Christ looks like.  Sometimes I try to copy what others are doing because I think they're smarter and better, so I should be doing what they're doing.  Unfortunately, a lot of my faith has been like that.  Last November I took my definitive promise as a Carmelite.  I haven't only found my own relationship with God, but I'm confident in it.  I'm not thinking that I'm getting it wrong or missing something.  I know with every fiber of my being that I am a Carmelite.  (SIDE NOTE:  I wish other things were as clear as that calling was.)

Another thing I found was who I was in my community and who my community was.  It wasn't who I thought it was which threw me for a loop.  I survived but not without some scars.

Through it all, it wasn't a bad year or a bad word.  This year's word is REMAIN.  Fr. John and I are already talking about how that might form this year.  We'll have to see.  So far, it's REMAINING home and working on things there.  Good luck to you in 2019.  May God bless you with love and prosperity.