Revisiting my Word of the Year

Grace: Abundant grace received thus far, but I still have a long way to go in terms of transformation

One of my earliest posts here was about my choice of a word of the year for 2024. The word that popped into my head was Grace. Because many people who read this might not be Christian, I tried to look at the word from all angles and came up with this list. The first two are growing more important as the days tick onward toward the election here in the USA.

Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash

• Resist the divisions that the media, partisan pundits and politicians are stoking 24/7.

• Be kinder to people I interact with. Everyone seems more stressed these days, so don’t add to it. Another word for this is being gracious, isn’t it?

• Stop nurturing petty grievances and move on, whether or not someone has apologized.

• Be kinder to myself and try to age more gracefully. Understand my limitations and stop fighting them.

• Be less self-reliant and give others the opportunity to help me.

• Be alert for the grace inherent in all of creation and give thanks for it.

• Give my art and craft to the world as a reflection of God’s grace.

• Pause daily to give thanks for all graces received.

• Grow the grace of being content with what I have, without coveting more material possessions.

Taking stock, I have made more progress in some areas than others. I seem to be doing the best at aging more gracefully, being more aware of the grace in all creation, and being content with what I have.

I can still hold onto a grudge with with tightly closed hands, and I am out and about more (after staying too long in lockdown mode) and trying to extend more grace, positivity and kindness to people around me.

I am less frustrated and down on myself when I fail at accomplish my daily goals. I have learned that sometimes, the daily goal needs to be rest, read and recharge. Hopefully, I will get back to having some artwork to share soon.

I am most grateful for all of the subtle promptings and unbidden thoughts that have led me to walk away from my lifelong faith community to a new one that is smaller, more welcoming and less limited in its reach. The following writers on substack have provided some of the input into that decision.

Tanner Olson, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Diana Butler Bass you have all nudged me to reach out and find a new faith community after a long time alone in the desert. Also Kimberley Phinney, who is in need of all our prayers right now. Thank you.

‘I do not at all understand the mystery of grace – only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.’ – Anne Lamott

Did you choose a guiding word for 2024? How it is it changed you? Please drop a comment and let me know.