“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” T. S. Eliot
Happy Monday!
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and took a few days off from the daily grind. There are plenty of other pressures during the holidays, but getting away from the regular ones is a welcomed respite. If your brand of holiday cheer is Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, I hope your celebrations were blessed, and you created cherished memories.
Now, it’s time to set our sights on the coming year. Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and in addition to football and more food (aargh!), it’s an opportunity to review the past year and plan for the new one. For some, this means continuing a more extensive, long-term plan to advance careers, education, or personal goals. For others, it means looking at what needs to change; maybe little tweaks or perhaps more substantial adjustments are in order.
At the church I attend, we have a tradition. Each year, we choose a word to represent what we want to incorporate into our new year’s planning. Every year, I have a specific focus around a more significant theme. That focus becomes my word for the year. I post the word where I’ll see it all the time and look for ways to employ it in my daily prayers and wonderings.
This coming year of 2025, my word is RENEW. I feel led to take a deeper dive into some of the accomplishments I experienced in 2023 and 2024 and make choices on adjusting and improving them in 2025. It also means looking at the things that didn’t work out as planned to see if they need to be eliminated while also considering what might be areas of exploration and implementation. It’s a chance to explore the possibility of expanding my voice as I work to renew my ideas and passions.
Those who know me better than others know that T. S. Eliot is one of my favorite writers. He penned these thoughts on the power of our voices:
The overarching sentiment that seems to emerge from Eliot’s words is RENEW. That works out pretty well for this musing, right?! I do, however, believe that last year’s words don’t necessarily need to be forgotten but used as tools to improve and create a new voice. The new focus becomes equipped to accomplish the developing vision of implementing a stronger voice.
Scripture has this to say about renewing:
“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” Isaiah 40:31 (AMPC)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:1 (NIV)
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (TLV)
There seems to be a lot of support for the word RENEW in its many forms and applications. The cool thing is that renewing our minds and spirits can strengthen our voices and help us adjust to changes more effectively. This makes creating a new voice all the more doable. It’s a winning combination!
This week, consider adopting your own word for the upcoming year. Allow time to play with different ideas and find the right word to motivate and support your journey. Think holistically about overall wellbeing and firm grounding, then let your imagination take over. I can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
Have a safe and happy New Year!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
