Why did the word “well” emerge as my word of the year?
I shared a few weeks ago my experience of “well” jumping into my heart. I listened to a poet friend from South African share his newest poem. “Let me answer YES to the lightness of being, that I live well and love well, that I listen to my heart’s desires, living life fully human, fully alive.” While all of Stanley’s words spoke deeply to me, I kept circling back to “well.”
Well invited me to walk with her this year. To play well. Read well. Rest well. Discern well. Live well. Love well. All will be well.
I love the potential in this word and feel an excitement to explore her lessons and meanings. Well implies a mystery, something to discover and full of anticipation of what might be found. This word spoke to me, became alive for me, beckoned me to look deeper.
The image of a well intrigues me: water wells, ink wells, stairwells. Tears well up in our eyes and deep longing well from our hearts.
Well represents a digging deep for a natural lifegiving resource while also lifting up buckets of refreshment to share with others.
In Ireland, more than 3000 wells are classified as holy. These sacred wells are associated with miracles, sacred stories, and people of faith. The county I live in in northwest Ohio is known for its artesian wells and wonderful tasting, national award-winning drinking water. I wonder if any holy wells exist near me. Mmmm, now that is something to explore.
One of my favorite quotes mentions a bucket, an object closely linked with wells.
“Lord I crawled across the barrenness to you with my empty cup uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better I’d have come running with a bucket.” -Nancy Spiegelberg
So hello “well.” Time to dig, lower that bucket, dip that ink quill deeper, climb the stairwell. Where should we go first in this exploring together this year? I will sit by my well and listen, learn, and grow.
How has a word lately come alive for you?
PS I would be neglectful not to mention that Lent begins tomorrow and I wrote a devotional book to bless your Lenten journey a few years ago. You can get 40 Voices on amazon. Thank you!
Thank you, Jean, for sharing your thoughts about your word WELL. You have given me a lot to think about and that is always good.
Isn’t it fun to read about each other’s words? I always learn something. Thank you for stopping by!
Well, I have to admit I didn’t even think about a physical well when I thought of your word! 🙂 That’s one thing I love about choosing one words: they continue to surprise us in ways we didn’t expect. “Time to dig, lower that bucket, dip that ink quill deeper, climb the stairwell. Where should we go first in this exploring together this year? I will sit by my well and listen, learn, and grow.” Yes, hello Well!
The physical image of the well is strong in this word and holds many lessons for me ahead I am sure. These words certainly do surprise us don’t they?
I didn’t realize well could hold such wonder, Jean; thank you for sharing your desire, “To play well. Read well. Rest well. Discern well. Live well. Love well. All will be well.” My word is cultivate, so I am seeking to cultivate love, cultivate faith, cultivate rest, cultivate prayer, etc. Now I can add cultivate wellness.
Love the word cultivate – powerful and full of images too. May it bless you with wonder and wisdom this year!
Jean, you’ve already uncovered a wealth of discoveries about the word “well!” And each of your verb clauses, “To play well. Read well. Rest well. Discern well. Live well. Love well,” offers much depth for thought. LOVE that Nancy Spiegelberg quote too–so glad you included it. I look forward to future posts that share your continuing discoveries!
Thank you Nancy for your kind words. I too think well will offer many gifts this year. Blessings!
Such an amazing word filled with endless possibilities, Jean. I think it will bring you a “wellth” of satisfaction in the new year.
Blessings!
love your creative invention of that new word, Martha!! I may use that!
love your creative invention of that new word, Martha!! I may have to use it. LOL
you are so creative to invent a new word!! I plan to use it. LOL
For a while I thought my word of the year would be “dwell,” which has the word “well” within it. I love both of those words and thank you for your reflection on the many ways to hold and be held by “well.” Listening and paying more attention, however, I have been gifted with two words for this time of my life: unfold/enfold.
unfold/enfold are wonderful words. I think they will take you to great places of depth and beauty. I walked with enfold several years ago. Isn’t it so important to continue to listen and pay attention!!
thank you jean…you are indeed the woman by the well that Jesus talks to…
my word is see…continuing eye issues…”but now i see”..
have an amazing lent jean
peace
You know I need to study that story in the Bible – the woman at the well – this year. Thank you for mentioning that.