My challenge this month from Lisa Burgess for my word of the year practice is to discover something new and answer the following questions:

• What’s a new fact you learned about your word?
• Does it change how you view your word? 
• Does it give you a new idea for practicing your word? 

I am a lifelong learner and love to explore new aspects of what we take for granted. Reflection and curiosity refresh the soul.

As you may remember I have a Phrase this year instead of a single word – Honor the Thirst deep within.  I decided to go on a search for new surprises with two of the words – Honor and Thirst.

Honor

• What’s a new fact you learned about your word?

While I previously read many definitions of the word honor, I missed this one: “In square dancing, to honor is to meet or salute with a bow.”

• Does it change how you view your word? 

Have I dance with my phrase this year?  Bowing before the thirst deep within? What music is it swaying to?  The image of dancing, instead of seriously studying our words of the year, makes me smile and brings joy to my soul. There is lightness and delight allemandering and do-si- dosing with my word.

• Does it give you a new idea for practicing your word? 

I tend to be too serious and dancing with honor with my phrase this year lightens my focus.  I didn’t realize how dark and somber this practice was in my heart. Now each morning I bow before my thirst, takes its hand and twirl.

Thirst

• What’s a new fact you learned about your word?

My approach to the word thirst was a deep craving, longing for more of God. Thirst is often described as strong desire for something. What I learned this week was another definition of thirst: a strong wish such as in “a thirst for adventure.”  

• Does it change how you view your word? 

I would whine to my mother when I was little, saying but I wish….  She had a funny response to set me straight. “You can wish on one hand and ‘pee’ in the other and see which was get full first.”  When I hear the word “wish” I smiled remembering her words. Am I just wishing for a deepening thirst or am I actively seeking? Am I openly receptive to more of God?  Makes me wonder how deeply I am actually thirsting for God. Need to pray and reflect about this new insight.

• Does it give you a new idea for practicing your word? 

I read once a beautiful saying. “Lord I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better I’d have come running with a bucket.” -Nancy Spiegelberg. When I ponder my phrase of the year, I will hold the image of a bucket. Not a cup just to wish for a sip, but a bottomless bucket open and receiving the Living Water.

What are you learning new this month?

P. S. I am so excited to share with you my latest book, Sacred Surroundings – Finding Grace in Every Place is available on Amazon.  The e-book version can be preordered now and the print version will be released October 31. I appreciate your support in my writing and your sharing this book with others.  Thank you!

The post Word of the Year New Insight appeared first on Healthy Spirituality.