My One Word

I am embarking on a journey with some friends this year.

A growth journey...a development journey...a spiritual journey.
We decided together to start 2015 in a new direction. Instead of resolving to achieve lofty goals in the new year, which would likely be abandoned or forgotten in the craziness of life, we chose instead to focus on a different mission. A one-word, year-long mission.
This One Word, chosen thoughtfully and prayerfully, would be powerful, yet have the versatility to be applied in many situations. From big decisions to small matters and everyday choices, it would serve to be a simple tool in the form of an unforgettable word...a word which holds depth, meaning, and potential for each individual.
Once chosen, the word will come to life. It will be shared, pondered, talked about, prayed for, questioned and lived-out throughout the year. Our hope is that by the end of the year, we are changed people. People who simply made an effort to focus on one specific word as an agent of change, and were thus transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit who used it to work in and through our lives.

My word is Awaken.

For the past few years, I feel like I've just been, well, asleep. I've been in a state of lifelessness; a dull sleepiness that crept in and stole the spark, the courage and the joy from my life. I stumbled into a season of life filled with circumstances that I didn't choose, and the bottom line is that I have responded poorly. It's as if I've been mindlessly taking bites from the proverbial "poison apple", simply because it's what was offered to me. And it has kept me under a sleepy spell all along...waiting, wishing for some magic kiss of life to rescue me and wake me from my slumber.

Well, my story is about to take a surprising turn, because I have opened my eyes. I have seen my escape and I hold the key that will unlock the prison. See, my Prince has been with me all along. I knew all along that He was close, but I played my role of the damsel in distress well, thinking I could avoid being courageous or taking risks because eventually He would step in and save the day. But He didn't choose to write my story in that way this time. Yet, He remained...present, patient and understanding. I think He was waiting for me want it badly enough, the waking-up. There is no doubt that He wants it for me. He always chooses joy and life to spite sorrow and death. It's His specialty.
He wants me to rise now. To awaken to many things in and around me. He wants me do different things. Take risks. Chase after the things that feed me with energy and fill me with light and life. He wants me to be one who shares those same gifts to others.

I'm not sure how this story is going to unfold. My new identity as the heroic damsel-in-battle will require some different things from me. It's going to take a lot of seeking and questioning, and even more listening, following and doing...maybe even some not-doing. It's going to take courage and stamina.
The best part though? I won't have to do any of it alone. My dream come true is that every awakening will be prompted, spoken, breathed or directed by the Holy Spirit. My rescuer. My knight in shining armor. My Prince Charming.

I'm ready to turn the page of my life's book. It's time for me to yawn and stretch...and face the first day of the rest of my life.

It's going to be a great story.

...for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, 

"Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light." 

-Ephesians 5:14