A colleague of mine, Religious Educator Tim Atkins, began sharing one of his spiritual practices a few years ago. Every January he chooses one word to carry him into the new year and serve as a guide and touch point for the year. (You can read several of his reflections in Braver/Wiser.) Of course the turning of the year leads me to thinking about my own intention setting. This year, I found myself thinking back to a long ago General Assembly.
Was it Nashville? Fort Worth? Whichever year I first found it, I would look for the booth of a particular wood artist in the exhibition hall each year. I coveted his work. He created chalices of found wood, some tall, others flat, each carrying the story of its life, growth, demise, and rebirth. And each carrying words engraved by the artist - quotations and inspirations and words to guide and accompany many a meditation or worship. Over years of visiting his booth at General Assembly, I coveted them. Most years, I simply could not afford them, being in the process of raising up young children, but I examined them as if I could. I’d find a shape that pleased, but the words weren’t quite right. I’d find exactly the words I felt called to, but the vessel was too perfect. I was always drawn back to the chalices and bowls that bore a crack, a rift, an imperfection the artist did not buff out or cut around but incorporated into the finished product. As a deeply imperfect person, those imperfections felt like home.
One year, I noticed a small sign on his display table: Custom Orders Available. I tried to convey to him what I pictured in my mind: a shape like this one, about as wide as that one, and these words - but most importantly, please find a cracked or broken, imperfect piece of wood to work with.
Several weeks later my chalice arrived with the words of the Prophet Micah, the ones that remind me to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. It has graced almost every room in my house, has traveled to each New England state and borne witness to baby naming, weddings, and memorial services. At first, whenever I approached my chalice, I mentally recited the Prophet's words: This is what you shall do: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your god. As an agnostic person, it did not take long for me to leave off that last prepositional phrase. And as more time passed, more mental abbreviations happened as the underlying exhortation became more integrated into my soul. (That might be an odd word choice for an Agnostic, but I invite you to lean into the dissonance.) Last month I carried this chalice to both a wedding and a memorial service and each time, my inner voice said, Love, Seek, Go.
In some quiet moments I’ve reflected on this journey from coveting, to claiming, to interpreting, integrating, and embodying. In my actions and choices, this is what I aim to do, what I feel my faith calling me to do: to Love Justice, and do my part to bend the moral arc closer. To Seek Mercy, and strive both to do no harm, and to repair harm when I inevitably fall short. And to Go, with humility, into a hurting, dangerous world, willing to learn from anyone in my path, to bear witness, to accompany.
I wonder - what words are you carrying into this new year? What word or words will guide you in the months to come? Will you share them with friends, with family, with colleagues who will help remind you of your calling? If you’d like to share the words that inspire and hold you close, I would be honored to receive them.
