it’s so hard to believe we are on the last few days of 2009. i do think this year goes down in history as the fastest ever. i always like to wrap up the year with some kind of time to reflect on what happened in the past 12 months and what i hope for in the upcoming year–not to make-way-too-lofty-goals-that-will-just-make-me-feel-bad-when-i-don’t-do-any-of-them but to take some time to consider where i’ve been, where i’m going. i posted a modified version of this on communitas collective today, and thought i’d include it here as well.
if you are up for it, take some time and reflect on these questions a bit. some might feel annoying (the refuge-es are used to it), some helpful. but the bottom line is that taking a little extra time to consider, ponder, celebrate, say out loud some things that we might not have a typical space to say them, is sometimes a useful exercise. let me know how it goes.
here’s the template in pdf – looking back, looking forward
i thought i’d share my responses here since in different weird ways you have been on this journey with me this past year. thanks for being part.
in 2009…
3-4 words that describe this past year… busy, wild, lost hope, gained hope, present
if 2009 was a book, i’d title it...“tunnel vision is under-rated” (i have come to the conclusion that while it is good & important to know what’s going on “out there” in the big ol’ Church-world, sometimes i need to keep my head down and focus on what’s right in front of me–beauty & creativity & healing & change & love & hope & doubt & people-willing-to-go-the-distance-with-others. that’s plenty.
i am really glad i tried… 4-8pm with no computer-use-at-all during the weekdays. it was a good shift our family made a while back. oh, and doing the 12 steps together at our summer house of refuge. i had wanted to do that for a long, long time and it finally happened.
something that really surprised me was… how fun it was to write some spoken word pieces for the voca femina share parties. those evenings were inspiring (and surprising) on so many levels.
the most courageous thing i did this year was…. work the 12 steps this summer and reckon with unhealthy codependent things i was doing in some important relationships. and then actually doing something about it, yeah!
i tried to let go of…. people & places who aren’t good for my soul
i tried to hold on to… people & places who are
i felt more hopeful about… the refuge & the strength of our community.
i felt less anxious about… trying to keep people on the fringes of our community happy. it’s not that i don’t care about them; i love and care and want them to find what they are looking for, but i realized this year how important it was to let go and let people make their own choices instead of trying to convince and cajole.
a relationship i feel extra grateful for this year…. too many to count, but one that stands out is my lovely friend stacy. her belief in the work that we are doing resulted in quitting her job, moving to denver, and joining us on our crazy little journey together. her presence & help has been so comforting, strengthening, hope-inducing.
this year, i noticed God at work in… my family. we have been through a lot faith-wise & practically in the past few years, and in 2009, through a lot of weird and unexplainable ways, things just felt more solid, more connected, just-plain-better.
in 2010…
words i hope describe this upcoming year…. peace-filled, present, surprising, risky, fun
something new i really want to try… checking facebook only once a day. period. did you hear that? once-a-day.
a relationship i want to pour more of my heart and time into… i want to spend more time at the reserve in 2010, an apartment complex where there’s a lot of darkness & a lot of lovely people in need of hope.
a way i want to take better care of myself is… um, for the 20th year in a row, attempt to work out more? really, though, i want to last and at some point if i don’t do a better job of this, i won’t. i need to take the whole self-care thing more seriously before more damage gets done.
a way i want to reach out to others is… i think i want to just keep doing what i’m/we’re doing with ever-evolving grace & love & peace.
i’d really love to experience more of God’s peace in…. our finances. raising our big ol’ family of 7 is expensive and sometimes overwhelming; having money tight at home & no money at the refuge all at the same time sometimes does me in. i don’t think a bunch more money’s coming, but i think more peace could.
i’m going to need God’s courage to…. take all my kids to africa and step into this opportunity to learn & listen & teach & preach & pass on what we are learning to some other pastors and not feel completely inadequate. oh, and the biggie–send my baby off to college across the country next fall. it’s going to be hard on all of us.
this year I hope i let go of… caring so much about the “church system.”
this year i hope i can hold on to…. the Good News in hard places–noticing it, bringing it, experiencing it in small ways, big ways & everything in between.
one dream i have for 2010 is…
- small dream: to experiment with facilitating an online spiritual direction class to help “make some wind” for those feeling stuck & alone. wanna be part?
- big dream: a sugar daddy/group of people with a heart for single mommies/hurting families/those-who-need-a-break who wants to fund a 4-plex or buy a big old house or two or rent a few apartments or ? to create a place of refuge, a transitional housing/advocacy & healing hub. know anyone?
happy new year, everyone. looking forward to what’s ahead.
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ps: check out a recent article on the sojourners blog that highlights my friend todd fadel’s (of love is concrete & the bridge church in portland) passion for creativity & the church – could church become a playground for all?