I thought it was going to be “intentional.” Or “wait.” Or even, “believe.” I toyed with “awake” and “desire,” thought good and hard about “story.” I joked about “crazy” when 2013 surfaced with more change than I thought was possible. I even thought “art” would be a good one – if a little predictable.
But I kept coming back to this Jack Kerouac quote:
“Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.”
Be in love. Be in love. Be in love.
Every time I saw it, I felt myself holding my breath. There was choice there. Desire. Awareness and intention. There was joy, and crazy and people and so much life to make art out of. There was existence and hope and I Am, and story – narrative, even – and isn’t it so very much like the God I love to move me from the challenge of a “Go” to the delight of “being in love”?
If there is anyone who gets me and my need for myth, it’s the God who made me with this silly girl-heart that learns His language through stories. He understands how real “feeling” is to me, and how love stories are my favorite and how beautiful isn’t always about a girl and a boy but about life itself and the image of God built into my heart to see the world He made the way He sees it.
I laid it out to Him yesterday when I was driving around Charleston. He liked the idea. A lot. It’s been a few years since I would even consider the thought of “being in love” with anything. But I’m giddy and grinning. This is FUN. If I can “be in love” with Him, with everything I do, with everyone I meet this year, it’s going to be a very, very fun 2013. And it’s going to mean something.
It finally feels as though I have a place to begin the year. I feel like I have a secret, and I’m fairly exploding with it. If I can get this feeling into my photos… Happy sigh.
Okay. Tomorrow, I’ll come up with another photo post. I promise.
FILED UNDER: Be In Love, Canon 5D Mk III, Filmy Grain, Fuji 400H 2C, One Word, Personal, Self-Portrait, Visual Supply Co.
Your word is wonderful! And for what it’s worth, I like *this* photo post…you are lovely.
Grace,
B
I easily think that could have been my word for 2012, though I didn’t do a word last year cause if one doesn’t come, I’m not going to force it. But I do have a word this year, one He gave me and then almost as quickly challenged with a bit of world-rocking. He is good. http://angelafehr.com/wordpress/2013/01/05/a-word-for-2013/
You know … I’m still thinking whether I have a word or not, but just as I read this I thought of “move” … who knows, maybe this word will win. :)
I like your word/phrase. You’ll do amazing things with it, I’m sure.
Just to exist– in His love– what greater joy and goal for a year? My word this year is connect. I haven’t blogged about it because my blog and I are barely on speaking terms right now. My desire is to be the one reaching out– making connections– with the people I care about. It’s hard work. I’d much rather sit on my butt and let the WiFi be my only connection.
B E A U T I F U L pictures, amazing. You are just stunning.
Kelly! I’m loving the bolder shadows and colors! There’s a reality to the beauty in them (same with the ones you took of your sister in law) can’t wait to see more :D
[...] word for this year is “be in love,” and I… I can’t begin to tell you what… You see, I made a commitment that [...]