Ful and New

For the past few years, I’ve selected “My One Word” to carry with me for an entire year. It is chosen after consideration, thoughts and prayers. I was in a quandary in 2021, because I could not settle on a single word. The one word ended up not being an actual word, rather the suffix “ful”, which is used with words like:

Of course, there are other words on the “dark side”, which I stayed away from whenever possible. Still, I found myself being more aware of the positive side of being full. It was an interesting journey.

Now, today, as 2021 wraps up, I have been inspired to select NEW as my 2022 one word. There is a whole (and very interesting!) page on what this word means in the Bible. Such a short little word that really packs a wallop.

There is one concept of new, meaning a start, or the inception of something – for instance, Happy New Year. It’s a beginning, a particular point within a continuum. Of course, there is also new life, as in a newborn baby. There are newlyweds, who are beginning their lives together.

As one gets older, it may seem like there are fewer opportunities for newness. This simply is not true. Every day is new and a chance to explore, to grow, to learn and flourish. After all, God is infinite, so there is no end to what we can learn about Him. If we believe we are made in His image, then, it stands to reason we have ongoing journeys that will reveal newness for our own lives.

Looking at the possibilities for the coming year, I am enthusiastically embracing new. This does not mean to eliminate the foundations of life – far from it! It means, like a tree adding another ring in its trunk structure, we can continue to build upon the blessings we have been given.

Arms open. Heart engaged. Full steam ahead! New. It sounds like a great plan for 2022.

-RG