One Word: Love

2019 is my sixth year of participation in One Word 365. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, I choose a word to guide my year. Most of my friends and family know I do this, and some of them have started adopting words (or phrases) too! The ritual of feeling out my next word starts in the fall. I meditate on common themes I see in my life, what I need help with, what I think God is trying to show me. I usually start with a few ideas and slowly narrow it down. The process has gotten easier and clearer over the years, and the Words have flowed naturally into each other, which is important to me. I pretty much knew my 2019 word in November. I always feel hesitant at first about my choice, which I believe is actually an affirmation (much in the way that the Enneagram type that hits painfully close to home is probably the correct one). But this time, I really took a step back and asked myself, Are you sure? For one thing, I prefer the Words less traveled. I cringe away from the obvious choices. For another thing, I prefer bold Words, but I’m never going to top this.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. – I John 4:16-18

[S]ince we are fallible, and likely wrong about so much, I would rather err on the side of love. I would rather be wrong while trying harder to love, trying to open my arms wider to bring more people around the Table. – Laura Jean Truman

We can only love others as much as we love ourselves. ― Brené Brown

She had so much love to give – she had always felt that – and now there was somebody to whom she could give this love, and that, she knew, was good; for that is what redeems us, that is what makes our pain and sorrow bearable – this giving of love to others, this sharing of the heart. ― Alexander McCall Smith

 

The passage about love in I John 4 has always been one of my favorites. I used it last year for Fearless, and it confirmed my sense that Love was a natural follow-up. I didn’t get to write much about Fearless, but I did wrestle with it all year. I continue to identify areas where my thoughts, actions, and beliefs are motivated by fear, and try to root it out. This is the ongoing work of my life.

In 2019 I will plan a wedding, get married, move out of my home, learn to be a landlady, and live with another human after living alone with cat(s) for nine years… all because of love. I’ve never experienced such a restful, uplifting, and secure love. I’m ready to celebrate it and lay a foundation for it to grow for the rest of our lives. Reminder: I chose this word before I got engaged, which feels like more affirmation!

I’m turning 40 this year. It’s a good time to reaffirm that love is central to what I stand for and what I want my legacy to be. I wish I had a big-picture action plan for loving people well, but mostly I take it one day at a time. Mostly I don’t even understand all that it means to love people well. I’d like to get better at it.

I want to know and experience God’s love in new ways. Much of my faith has been based in fear, and in a stern interpretation of divine love that can look a little like abuse. I feel strong enough now to trust that God’s love is big enough to hold me. I’m pursuing truly good news of an abundant love, for myself and for others.

I’ve struggled with this post for weeks, because nothing feels like an adequate exploration of the biggest concept there is. But these main reasons for choosing Love will have to do for now. If you have a word, phrase, or theme for the year, let me know!

 

About my previous One Words:
2018: Fearless // 2017: Abundance // 2016: Light // 2015: Enough // 2014: Alive // 2013: Focus