Hi Friend
This week has been a lot of reflection and projection, as is always the case at this time of the year. It’s fun to see all the “Top Lists” whether music or movies. I’ve got a friend who sends out an annual Christmas letter/card that follows the old David Letterman Top Ten Lists of his and his family’s life from that year. He’s being doing it since he was single and now has four kids ranging 2-18. It’s interesting to see what’s emphasized.
This past year I took a different approach to picking a “Word of the Year”. I went with a Word-of-the-Month which really worked for me. There was only one month where I repeated the word because I didn’t adhere to it (the second month I didn’t do much better.) The word was “Declutter” which was apparently too aspirational.
What’s unexpected is that a WORD-OF-THE-YEAR emerged that was none of the words I had selected. The over-arching theme of 2022 for me was SURRENDER. Emotionally, spiritually, mentally, relationally and physically I have vivid, memorable experiences of letting go, turning over, submitting, and abandoning. On occasion it happened when I was alone, but mostly it occurred in context of human interactions.
I’m no expert. Heck this week I’m wrestling with an internal conversation. I’m not even much of a control-freak, but this exercise of releasing control, is brutal on the ego. It’s a deeper kind of faith than “believing for”. It’s the faith to “give up”… my will, my wants and my ways. It feels very sanctifying and also entirely annoying.
If you’re considering attempting such nuttiness next year, for whatever reason, here are a few things I’ve learned.
ACCEPT – Before you can surrender anything, you have to fully embrace and acknowledge you possess it. You can’t turn over something you’re distancing yourself from. IYKYK.
HEART, THEN MIND – The Will resides in our heart. Start there first offering it up and out, then follow through battling thoughts and resistance in your head.
RELEASE – Letting go is more than symbolic. It means an alteration in our approach; adjusting our attitude, actions and activities to align authentically with our attempted acquiescence.
There is no such thing as casual surrender.
It is always a wrestling match.
The Five Realms of Reality: Emotional, spiritual, mental, relational and physical are interdependent. Each requires a different level of sacrifice for surrender to occur in one area. Just a heads up.
I’m starting out January with the same word I started with last year: CONTENT. I imagine if I start the new year taking a disposition of gratitude, satisfaction and meaning, it should position me well for the next 11 months.