2011: My Year of Stability

My friend Daphne recently posted an article on her blog about “Choosing to Name Your Year”…HERE.  “A year name can help align us with purpose and help us live our days more fully focused on what we are committed to.” While I am still considering what I will name my 2012, I am recognizing that I named my 2011 without even fully realizing it.

2011 was my year of stability.

This season of growing in stability actually began back in July 2010 when our WMF Staff Gathering focused on the theme of stability. The book, The Wisdom of Stability: Rooting Faith in a Mobile Culture by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove was our primary guide. I highly recommend this book. It is up there as a top book that has formed and shaped my life. In the book Wilson-Hartgrove points us towards Benedictine spirituality and rhythm of life as our example. The Benedictine Rule requires commitment to stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience. Benedict put stability first. “If we’re going to climb Jacob’s ladder toward the humility of Jesus, Benedictine wisdom says the first thing need is a stable place to begin.” You can read some of my favorite quotes from the book…HERE.

Then last January I wrote “Attentiveness and Call to Place,” posted on This Ignatian Life blog….HERE.  In the article I wrote, “This new year I desire to do just that. I intend to make effort for more exercises like my Christmas top ten. I plan to pay attention to the things I love about the city, culture, and people of Buenos Aires. I trust that this posture will enable me to more deeply embrace and share in the fullness of life with those I am called to serve among.” And I did just that. I identified and shared eight of my favorite things about life in Buenos Aires throughout 2011 here on my blog. I am still hoping to round out a top ten before too long.

The image of trees and roots became my symbol of stability. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove speaks of establishing ‘roots of love’ that bind us “intimately to our landscape and the people who share life on it.” He goes on to say, “If the love of God and neighbor is our end goal, roots of love in stability are the means God has given for making progress in this life.” The depth and reach of our roots directly impacts the reach of our limbs and fruit we bear. Fortunately, Buenos Aires is full of trees. So, I spent a lot of time paying attention to trees. I did not lack reminders of my desire to grow deeper roots of stability this past year.

So, as I close out 2011 tonight, I begin with gratitude to God for my year of stability. Grateful for the meaningful ways my roots have deepened in community and place. Grateful for those who have encouraged me and accompanied me along the way in this desire for stability. Thank you!

Tomorrow I begin the new year seeking to name my 2012. While I intend to give it some more space to take shape, I believe it will have something to do with “living in the present moment.” Stay tuned!