I know I did the same thing before. It might have even been last year, but I changed my word. Well, maybe I did not change it exactly, but I reverted back to what came to me first. The word “place” seemed too abstract. I had no idea what it really meant. Then I realized that was kinda the point. If I already understood the word and knew everything about it, what would I learn? And for me, learning is part of the whole point of having a word for the year.
So, my word for 2021 is “place.” I am not gushing with new revelations about the word daily, but every so often I hear a profound whisper. Yesterday, the phrase I kept hearing was “in this place and time.” I figured I was remembering it from some quote, but I could not find one in a google search.
This morning during my quiet time of prayer and meditation, I noticed how I was holding my rosary with closed hands. I then opened them.
(As an aside, I have a rosary with lava beads that I keep next to my prayer chair. I have been trying to engage all my five senses–sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste–as I pray to help keep me focused on the here and now. The sound of the trickling water in our tabletop fountain can bring me back to the present if my mind starts to wander. Or the sent of the candle burning, the sent of frankincense essential oil on the lava beads that act as a diffusers of sorts can quiet my mind from thinking about the past or future.)
Back to my opening and closing hands. This prayer came to me:
Lord, hold me
in whatever way I need
in this place
in this time.
The part about whatever way I need made me consider how sometimes I need to be held gently with care, while other times firmly with promise. I am sure God knows what I need, but I pray that I might be as sensitive to others needs as well. Granted, I think we all need really big, firm, squishy physical hugs from each other right now. Who ever thought a pandemic would keep us from that?! Until then, I need to trust that God is holding us all in whatever way we need.
God Bless You!
Christine
