One Perfect Word

A prominent book on my shelf this year.

The fresh slate enabled by the coming of a new year is a welcome reward after surviving yet another year.  It is good to turn the page, start a new chapter, or perhaps even close the book and begin something completely new.  Though I wouldn't consider myself a junkie, I am always on the look out for the next book or program that might inspire.  For the last two years, a sale table has provided such a book.

During the first week of 2013, I meandered my way down the aisles at T.J. Max, one of my favorite places to find hidden treasures.  I have enjoyed 2 or 3 of Debbie Macomber's novels and saw her name on a nonfiction hardback for only $3.  I used to think that cheap meant it was a dismal failure -- not true, just perhaps under appreciated.

The first novel of her massive collection of works I discovered was "Twenty Wishes," a tale of hope and excitement about the future I can highly recommend.  I wondered how her nonfiction would be.

Even with a 20 plus year background in Christian ministry, I find most religious self help books insulting, fluffy and downright useless.  I was afraid Macomber would go the same direction, but she surprised me with a powerful read.  She puts forth her Christian beliefs in a simple matter of fact manner that attracts and disarms rather than the usual "shoving it down one another's throat" approach.  Thank you Debbie.

The gist of this book is that you find a meaningful word that you can live closely with for a year.  You put the word places where you can see it daily, study it, use it, live with it, chew on it, needlepoint it -- discover the depth of its meaning for you in a profoundly intimate way that takes you further on your spiritual journey.  Macomber shared from a number of years of her experience with having one perfect word each year.

I am a word person.  The power of words is unarguable. The power of one word can be razor like.  The power of a word that one has been inspired to grow with can be life changing.

With endless possibilities before me I couldn't wait to find my word for all of 2013.  I pondered the words-- "family," "journey," "love," and a few more.  Much of what I hope to do this year requires me to create and to fully engage in that act.  My perfect word is CREATE.

My perfect word, placed gently in a nest, waiting to be hatched, ready to grow with me.

 So create I shall!  In a multitude of ways I will create.  Already I have begun to see those six letter penned everywhere.  I suddenly hear it in sentences with implications bearing forth that I'd never seen before.  I do love an adventure and there is one being created to last me more than a year.

Making Room for the Best of Things

It isn't a pretty subject, some might say it is down right rude to even bring the subject up.  Bringing up the topic certainly isn't ladylike, but I have to tell you where I started in order to take you with me on the journey.  I had a colonoscopy this week.  I know, it's a procedure that makes grown men cringe and one necessary to promote a long and healthy life.

As any one knows who has ever had one, it is not the actual colonoscopy that is arduous --  its the preparation that causes one to reconsider it's importance.

The whole idea is that before you go in for the test that probes your very innards, you must remove all obstacles by completely cleaning out your intestinal tract.  That is the indelicate portion of this post.  Quite simply -- you drink lots of this ghastly medicine that makes you go to the bathroom -- a lot. 

By the time I was propped up on my bed, waiting for my turn, I was completely exhausted and in a rather foul mood.  Can you blame me?  For at least two hours I waited, so I had oodles of time think of all the things I could be doing and to ponder the very meaning of life.

It occurred to me that we, as the human species are pretty good at coming up with and carrying out multiple tests and procedures to make sure our bodies are as healthy as possible.  What an incredible thing it would be if we could have such tests to monitor the health of our emotional heart or the passion of our soul?  Who would be an expert?  Who would be able to obtain the education and experience necessary to proctor such a test?  Who would decide what is healthy and what isn't?  Would I even want another person to measure my emotional or spiritual health?

Before the nurses, doctor and such came to whisk me away, I arrived at three important conclusions.

Important Conclusion #1: It isn't up to me to tell someone else of their spiritual or emotional health. It is up to me to be supportive and serve as a sign post when called upon. By the same token, I don't have the freedom to pass the buck and let someone else serve as the decider of my growth.  It is my responsibility, no one elses.  I can't blame any one but me for my lack of growth.  Judgement stays with me about me.

Important Conclusion #2:  You have to get rid of the garbage, the waste, the stuff that is no longer needed, the crap in all areas of life.  With a society of hoarders, we do attempt to keep all sorts of things longer than we should -- hurts, old out dated ideas, hate, negative emotions, grudges, judgement.  Just like I needed to clean out my colon, we need to clean out the house -- both the one built of mortar and brick and the one that represents the heart and soul. 

Important Conclusion #3: When we've been cleaned out, we are hungry for something good! I was starved after many hours of fasting.  I wanted a warm bowl of soup or a salad full of healthy vegetables. Once the crud is cleared out of our emotional and spiritual house, we are starved for something nutritious that helps us grow and be healthier than we were before.

I got through the test just fine and my colon health is set for another five years or so.  Isn't it amazing how something so unpleasant can cause one to be pushed a bit further on the journey of growth.