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| God looks at us and says, "You are my dear, dear child: I'm delighted with you." ~N.T. Wright |
Know what’s wild?
It has been almost one month since Epiphany!
And, want to know something even wilder?
We are 15 days away from the start of Lent.
Where has 2021 gone? Just kidding. But for real, time is flying by!
As we approach a new season in our liturgical life together, I want to share how my Epiphany Word practice is going.
Wait. Epiphany word? What are you even talking about, Adam?
On Sunday, January 10, the front of the bulletin had a star. At the end of the service, I invited you all to consider a word that will guide you towards the light and love of Christ in 2021. I then asked you to write down that word on the star and place it somewhere you can see it to remind you of the journey we are on this year. Do you remember? If not, go back and watch our Epiphany Sunday service! You can get to it by clicking here.
Similar to last year, my word came quickly to me. For whatever reason, the word that kept being revealed to me was the word realize.
Like many of you, I have dreams, goals, and hopes. However, I struggle with making these aspirations come to life. It is a growing edge of mine—to see plans through until the very end, which is why the word realize guides me this year.
The basic definition of realize I’m working with this year is this one: to make something real. 2021 is the year I realize my dreams:
- A new church directory and a renewal of our ministry teams.
- A doctorate proposal that gets me to the research and writing part of the program.
- The dream of implementing my rule of life, which will come to fruition during my sabbatical.
These hopes are the big ones in my life. I have smaller ones, too. Like making fishing a part of my self-care, walking the dogs 4 to 5 days a week, and teaching them new tricks; reading 52 books in 2021 [thank goodness for school!]; returning to the habit of making meals regularly. Ultimately, in all aspects of my life, I want to realize the love of God—to embody this love in all that I do.
For me, it is not enough to talk about my dreams, hopes, and aspirations. I must realize them!
Since January 6, we’ve been in the season known as “the time after the Epiphany.” All the Bible stories have been about revealing God’s love to the world—especially in the person and ministry of Jesus. Epiphany reminds us that we are a people of Light and of the Light. The star leads us towards becoming this Light in the world. When we allow the Divine's light and love to transform us, the Epiphany seasons move us—bring us to a different place.
So, friends, what is your word guiding you this year? What do you need more of this year to become the Light God gifted you to be?
Whatever your word is, know that you have a community of faith rooting you on, walking with you as you realize the Light that you are at your core!
Together we will be curators of epiphanic moments for Lincoln and beyond.
Once you have your word, let me know! I would love for you to share them with me.
[It usually takes a couple days past the Epiphany for me to find mine. Thank goodness I have colleagues who make “star word Sunday” a practice in their communities and their own lives to help me along the way. If you need some inspiration, check out this blog by Rev. Marci Glass, the pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho. She has done this practice with her congregation for many years and has numerous posts to find what our star words could be. You can get to her website here.]
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