Every year I am amazed how a simple word or phrase that silently creeps into my heart in midwinter and slowly emerges as my Word of the Year weaves itself into my soul. In 2021 the word that chose me is simply, GO. Two letters we all learned to read early in life, but one word oozing with power, wisdom, and gentle companionship.
I just returned from an 8-day silent directed retreat. Yes, I did stay quiet (most of the time.) The practice of attending a retreat at least yearly is life-giving for me and essential for my spiritual walk with God. My spirit rests and recalls its Creator and its central call and life purpose.
Two weeks ago, I shared my expectations about this year’s retreat and now want to share some of my lessons and retreat reflections in this weeks and next week’s posts.
Word of the year – Retreat Reflections
What did my word of the year – Go – show me on retreat this year?
Keep Going – God is inviting me to be more than to do. I am not finished yet. God is not finished with me yet either. Keep going is energy to propel me onward in this journey.
Go forth with joy and thanksgiving. I get so serious and focused on my to-dos and lists, I forget to breath in God’s amazing wonder and thank him for all his gifts. Go’s best friend is Joy and I am neglecting her.
Go with peace. God’s peace lays deep inside my soul no matter the turbulence swirling around me. Peace beyond human comprehension provides a firm foundation during any storm.
Go without regrets. After months of pandemic in which I turned a new decade older, I find myself thinking – If I were to die or were dying, what would I regret not doing, saying, being with? I heard go on that trip. Go see that old friend. Go, take a risk. Go for a walk and pay attention to the holy all around.
Go write and go light. I am called to be a writer – a core essence of how God created me. I am a writer and writers write. Go light, be the light, reflect the light (2020 word). On a humorous note, go light came to me as I dragged my heavy suitcase into the retreat. I always take too much – Travel light, Jeanie, both figuratively and literally. It’s ok not bring everything – all will be fine. There will be enough.
Go slow. Retreat slows me down to hear God’s voice and the whispers within my soul that often are drowned out by the external noise and internal chatter. I also was reminded to go one step at a time. God will show the way. Be patient.
Go with wild abandonment. Being present, sitting within God’s heart at retreats reassures me God loves me, each of us, unconditionally, with wild abandonment. God’s love serves as the primary message throughout my journals and one I need to hear often and perhaps someday will fully believe. A new dimension to the phase go with wild abandonment arose this year – how much I am also called to return that love to our Almighty God and love him unconditionally, with wild abandonment.
A simple word yet powerful held me during my time with God. I was surprised and blessed by my word of the year and these retreat reflections. A little more insights will be coming next week. By the way, thank you for your prayers .
How is God forming you lately? If you have a word for the year, how is it lighting your way?
Wow, I love your inspiration for your word “Go”! I also commend you for taking the time to participate in a silent retreat, how life giving that can be!
Hi Donna, yes yes going on retreat is life giving for me and a practice I intentionally play and guard to get in each year. So glad to be able to go again after the pandemic. What a blessing it is
God certainly filled you with all kinds of inspiration for your word of the year at this amazing retreat, Jean. What a blessing! Thank you for sharing your amazing revelations with us, my friend.
Yes yes, the retreat was such a blessing. I find the nourishment I receive on retreat feeds me for quite a while.
I picture you in a quiet, private place, Jean, reading and writing, surrounded by the blissful Presence of our Heavenly Father. And with a smile on your face you wrote all of these wonderful affirmations–enough truth to ponder until the next retreat! “Go–take a risk” spoke to me also. Starting next week I’ll be participating in a six-week Bible study with a handful of women young enough to be my granddaughters, or at least my daughters! They’re looking for a voice of experience to join them; THAT I can offer! Though the age difference may feel awkward, I’m praying I can speak God’s wisdom into their lives. (I’m also praying for a parking space that evening, as the location for the study is in an urban neighborhood!! : ) )
Love this image, Nancy,. Thank you. Let me know how your Bible study goes. I am in a young adult bible/book club – starting as the leader but now they lead it but they still invite me. I love listening to them and learning from them. Did you get that parking space?
Yay! So excited to read your notes about your silent retreat. These are lessons that many of us can find useful to apply to our own lives as well: Keep going; go with peace; go take a risk (that’s the scary one for me!). So glad you linked this with us at our One Word post! So many good insights here.
So many lessons, Lisa from this retreat. and I was amazed at how my word weaved itself into the experience too.
God gave you insights for your comfort and you gave Him yourself…thank you for sharing , jean…
I’ve been pondering this too, Jean, “ If I were dying, what would I regret not doing, saying, being with? I heard go on that trip. Go see that old friend. Go, take a risk. Go for a walk and pay attention to the holy all around.” Especially, pay attention to the holy all around.
I also heard lately – In 3-5 years how do you picture spending your days? I thought that was a good companion question to the regrets one. Paying attention is a key practice and one hopefully I am doing more of.
Thank you for reminding me that as long as we are drawing breath, we must continue going on the journey He has set before us. “Go” is such a simple two letter word that will take us further in life if we let it.
HI Joanne! Go has been such a powerful word for me this year. I hear or see it almost daily. Amazing for such a simple little thing….
A silent retreat sounds very inviting right about now … it’s been about 15 years …
I find Linda, I need to go on a silent retreat at least once a year or my soul becomes so dry and lifeless. The stillness and silence brings life back for me.