One Word 2011

// January 2nd, 2011 // Faith, My Fabulous Life

It took some prayerful thought to come up with One Word 2011. I almost passed the whole idea by, but as I resolve (not a New Year’s resolution, but a life resolution) to be more focused on things that matter (I almost chose focus for my word), my prayer is that something would nag inside and keep me accountable.

Besides, I love Alece, she has a heart as big as the whole outdoors (no, I’ve never met her but I consider myself a very good judge of character) and I thought the whole “older woman” participation thing would give her project some diversity.

I come bearing wrinkles. And a catch in my get-along.

As of 11:15 this morning, I didn’t have my “word.” I couldn’t find it. I even went through dictionary.com last night and fell asleep in the middle of the C’s.

Committed. That’s me, but stretched is more accurate. Consistent. Setting myself up for failure. Conundrum. That’s where I….fell… asleeeeppp.

Then today at church we sang one of my favorite songs: Hosanna. And everything seemed to fit into this season of my life. Poignant words and phrases. One of the best bridges ever written, in the opinion of one who appreciates good music but can’t carry a tune in a bushel basket.

My One Word leaped off the projection screen.


I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Yeeeah

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek

We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna in the highest

My One Word: Seek.

Seek Him more – in prayer, in worship, in quiet, in the Word, and yes, even at work.

Seek knowledge and wisdom in the old and new.

Seek patience.

Seek good in everyone.

Seek my voice for this random piece of the Internets.

Seek you, fair reader. Who are you and what brought you here?

Seek to fulfill my purpose.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Seek a faith that absolutely, positively can’t be shaken. Ever.

And as per the diagram above – locomote. I love that word.

Seek is just one word, but it sends ripples of verbiage into the the pool that is this season of my life. Who is to be known. What needs to be done. Who needs to be asked. Who I need to help.

And if you’ll notice, none of this seeking process happens in a vacuum, standing still, or alone.

And that’s the way I like it.

Seek.

Tea tonight: Green with Pomegranate and Acai

Related posts:

  1. One Word at a Time: Trust
  2. I just want to say one word to you….

19 Responses to “One Word 2011”

  1. alece says:
    January 2, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    you are cracking me up with your diversity comments! ha! oh how i love the way you make my heart feel lighter, no matter what my day has been like that. such is the gift of who you are.

    i LOVE your word. seek. the intentionality of it. the action it takes. the purpose, focus, nothing’s-gonna-stop-me perseverance of it. i can’t help but wonder what surprising things you’ll find along the way with all that seeking…

    (and thank you for your amazing encouragement. you are wonderful. thank you.)

    Reply
  2. Sharkbait says:
    January 3, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    Good word. Really good.

    And I love the fact that the project has at least one guy who thinks he is a fish, and you still think YOU are the one bringing diversity.

    Sorry, but I think you’re going to have to try a little harder. :-)

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 3, 2011 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks, Sharkie. Glad Alece has you and me to shake things up a bit. And I will have a birthday by the end of the year – I’ll be older and you’ll still be a fish. Glub glub.

      PS – I’m using your word, too. Just so you know. Love it.

      Reply
  3. Jenny says:
    January 3, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    I love your word! are you the Candy on Gitz’ blog that did “Oh Deer”? :)

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 3, 2011 at 3:10 pm

      Yep, that’s me! Isn’t “Oh Deer” adorable? Sure hope Gitz doesn’t mind him hanging around for a while. He may just be an Easter deer, too!

      Reply
  4. Bradley J. Moore says:
    January 3, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    So cool. To seek. I love the word map – it really expands your word-quest.

    I also fully appreciate your “Life resolution” as opposed to New YEar’s resolution. I am doing the same this year. I have thought alot about what it will be, and the one resonating theme is “a spirit of generosity.” It’s more than one word, but sums up what I need to learn, and how I need to grow. I feel like I was way to caught up in my own stuff in 2011. Time to expand.

    Here’s to an awesome seeking in 2011 for you!

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 3, 2011 at 10:39 pm

      I loved that word map, too. Wish I’d have been smart enough to think of it on my own! Love your spiritofgenerosity. See, it’s really one word. It’s perfect for you – I don’t think you realize how generous you really are, particularly with your words of wisdom. So thank you, Brad.

      Reply
  5. Ann Kroeker says:
    January 3, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Seek…love how you told us the story behind it. You stayed open to a word…and “seek” seems to have “sought” you. :)

    Reply
  6. Ed says:
    January 5, 2011 at 6:20 pm

    I must admit when I see the word locomote the first thing I think of is the Carol King song “Do the Locomotion”. Maybe that is not a bad way to describe how many of us live.

    I had to look locomote up. It is made of two words 1) loco – crazy and 2) tiny speck. A crazy tiny speck, in terms of our part in Universe, is a pretty good definition of us humans.

    The definition of locomote I find in the Urban Dictionary – A person who locomotes is a person who realized she/he is a tiny speck in the universe and is willing to go crazy and have fun while moving with a purpose and bringing good into the world. Now that is a great description of how we should lead our lives to make the most out of our existence.

    Thanks Candy for introducing me to my new favorite word, locomote. I have at least the crazy part down pat.

    There are two aspects to living, survival and seeking to understand.

    Being created is not something we have a choice in. Basic survival instinct is ingrained in our DNA, as it is with all organisms.

    To seek understanding is something we choose to do. To try and understand not only the world around us but also our own nature, is something that define us as human. Seeking faith is a human activity. If we want to live the best life we can, it may be the most important decison we make.

    I wish you success Candy in seeking understand, and Doing the Locomotion, in 2011.

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 5, 2011 at 7:09 pm

      Ed, you put more thought and heart into one comment than most people do in their entire blog. So glad someone else around these parts remembers songs from the 60s! And now “Do the Locomotion” will be my earworm for the rest of the week! Thanks, friend.

      Reply
  7. Helen says:
    January 6, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    I love your word, Candy. I should probably be committed as well, but I’ve already chosen hope, and am going to stick to it. :-)

    Reply
  8. Jake says:
    January 6, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    Candy, I just hope you know two things.
    First, I respect you. A lot. You seem like a woman who has her stuff together, which is incredibly admirable.

    Second, I think we’d be good friends. You’re a funny one, which totally balances the whole respect thing (in a good way, don’t worry)

    I’m praying that your family has a WONDERFUL 2011, seeking Him.

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 7, 2011 at 8:20 am

      Aww, thanks Jake. Yes, I have all my stuff together. I just don’t know where I put it!

      And we ARE friends! In a crazy, imaginary, bloggity kind of way. Even though you could be my grandson. There are no generation gaps on the internets.

      Reply
  9. Prudence says:
    January 8, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I love reading about your adventures with Gitz. Love your word.

    My word is grace.

    Reply
    • Candy says:
      January 8, 2011 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks, Prudence. As I was pondering words, “prudence” was actually one of them! And Gitz? Yes, she’s an adventure wrapped in a bellylaugh. Love her!

      Reply

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