one word: heart

 
Today’s One Word post is special because I share it with my friend Cerella D. Sechrist, who is posting her own take on the same word over at my pop culture blog. The word is her own choice as we determined to do a Valentine-type focus, but in the end we couldn’t bring ourselves to write in a traditional sense about such a traditional topic. Take some time to stop by and read Cerella’s take. And enter the giveaway over there by commenting on your own Word. But first, this week’s challenge to write One Word…
 
 

 
The usual imagery associated with “heart”, especially around this time of year, is something pretty, sweet, romantic. But I’ve never been that kind of girl. When it comes to Valentine’s Day, though, I do enjoy sharing my heart with others, just not in the typical sense. I’ve never been in a romantic relationship during this season, so I have always focused my attentions on the people who are constant in my life. My heart remains fixed on them all throughout the year, and so Valentine’s Day is just one more day to remind them of that love. And while that is the true nature of the day anyway, it’s not what most people end up doing. The commercial aspect has overshadowed the sentiment. But I grasp that sentiment and hold onto it tightly. My family and my friends are the focus, but words will be the main gift I give them. My heart is constantly filled with emotions that very few words can adequately express, yet I’ve come to learn that these few words mean the most anyway.
 
Jesus told us that where our treasure lay, our hearts will be. I want my heart to lie with the people I love. I want them to know that they are my treasure. This can’t happen during a single day in February. My heart must be full of them at all times. I’m thankful that I know the God who teaches us all how to love. And I’m thankful that His heart is big enough to forgive me when I fail. Without the example of a loving God, my own heart would have no hope at all. Yet it is because I do have His example that my heart is constantly bursting with more love than I know what to do with. I’m grateful that my life is filled with people who understand that about me and have turned their hearts toward me, as well. Every day of the year.

---

This post was derived from the list of inspiration words gathered on Ali Edwards’s blog and from the concept of writing about one word.
 

one word: more

 

I’ve mentioned here before how much I love bright, shiny things and how tempted I am to make impulse purchases and spend far too much — even when spending for a valid reason or good cause. It is my nature to want and to do more. I’m the first to tell you that I have an obsessive personality. Just enough is just not enough. It’s too little. I work to perfection, I overdo almost everything, and I’m always thinking about what else there can be rather than settling into what already is. I’m the kind of person who can easily miss what’s right in front of her. And I often do. It’s not easy for me to be still and just live in the richness of the moment. But God is always at work in me.

During the past year I’ve become deliberate in how I view the world around me. I’ve taken time to unplug from the busyness, and I’ve challenged myself with a daily project designed to turn my focus outward and see all the beauty that exists around me. I’m learning to appreciate the moments of each day. And I’m learning to make do with what I have right now. I’m still obsessive and still have an addiction to “want,” but God is helping me channel those traits into more productive outlets. For now, that’s enough.

---

This post was derived from the list of inspiration words gathered on Ali Edwards’s blog and from the concept of writing about one word.
 

one word: thrive

 
My heart of hearts longs to soar, to do all the things I’ve ever dreamed of doing. My mind tends to get in the way, telling me that I “can’t” or I “shouldn’t” or “not just yet.” It’s been a lifelong struggle between my creative, passionate heart and my logical, fearful intellect. And yet I still long to soar. To thrive. To be more than I ever dreamed I could be and all that I’ve ever wanted to be. I want to do more, say more, dream more, and I want to find the fulfillment that has often been lacking in my life.
 
I love the word “vigorously” in the definition of thrive. It reminds me that there is action involved. I will never achieve a level of satisfaction without stepping out and pursuing it. It’s not enough to stand still and “grow”; I must develop vigorously. Only then will I achieve all that my heart desires. Only then will I understand what it means to thrive.
 

---

This post was derived from the list of inspiration words gathered on Ali Edwards’s blog and from the concept of writing about one word.
 

one little word for 2010

 
Each year, the highly inspirational Ali Edwards presents a challenge to choose One Little Word for the year. One little word to focus and meditate and act upon throughout the year. One little word that acts as a touchpoint for making the year fuller and richer and brimming with purpose. I’ve considered choosing a specific word these past few years but never really honed in on one specific thing. But this year, as soon as Ali posted the challenge, I knew what my word would be.
 
 

 

This word came to me from a simple statement of prayer posted by a minister friend back in early December: “Lord, fill my sails in 2010.” I felt its impact immediately — a sense of refreshing, of opening my arms to the Spirit of God and feeling His power rush beside me, carry me. It was the most powerful visual I’d had all year. And as I thought about how to create action from the word itself, how to be purposeful with it, I decided that 2010 is here for me to set out without restriction. For me to hoist the sails and allow God to take me where He will. For me to resist setting my own path and, instead, allow the winds of change to move me forward. For me to stand back and SAIL along… at God’s pace instead of my own. That is my prayer, and that is my purpose for 2010.
 

 
See the complete list of chosen Words at Ali Edwards’s blog.
 

---

 

one word: independence

My young adulthood was a constant struggle for me. I came out of college after 6 years (+ one semester off) and found myself with a completed degree but no qualifications for a career. In order to use my degree, I would need to continue on to graduate school and achieve a master’s level before my field of study would be worth anything to an employer. Since my undergraduate years had been so random and misguided, I just couldn’t find the patience for more school. I spent the next few years lamenting my lack of career and found myself living back at my parents’ home with no direction and no marketable skills. I worked a retail job or two, then attempted to make use of my psychology degree by joining a team of counselors in a wilderness camp for emotionally disturbed teens. It didn’t take long to realize that I, myself, wasn’t emotionally equipped to be anyone’s counselor. Again I ended up back at home, and for the next few years I struggled with feelings of failure. In my mind, the issue wasn’t even one of career any longer but of independence. I simply wanted to be able to support myself and live in my own place.
 
That journey to self-sufficiency would take several more years but I finally found relief from the constant fear that everything was going to fall out from under me. I’ve learned that having a job and a place to live does not guarantee feelings of independence. All of it can be taken away in a heartbeat. And in those instances I have to ask for help from friends and family and my church. But I no longer consider that a lack of independence. Instead, I see it as reliance on my God to provide all that I need. I’ve been given the freedom and the choice to worship God and to allow Him to provide anything I lack. This often happens through the kindness of others, through blessings I never dreamed I’d receive. But relying on God doesn’t make me less independent in life; rather, I have chosen to be dependent because only He knows what’s coming next for me. There is nothing I can do to bring total security in my life. None of us can! And I understand now, after all these years, that independence is not the goal. Security is not something to achieve. Instead, I am to be reliant on my God and, in His wisdom, He often will ask that I rely on others, as well. There’s only so much I can do for myself, and I have learned not to worry when I can’t manage it all on my own. Time and again, I’ve seen God meet me right there and take care of the rest.