In Mike Ashcroft’s My One Word, he asks, “What next step has God revealed regarding your one word?”  He suggests asking questions, praying, and letting your key verse guide you to that next step.  My key verse reminds me to keep focused on the goal.  I searched Biblegateway.com for a list of verses in Eugene Peterson’s The Message that have the word focus.  The following verse was listed that refers to a goal I think requires some attention from me:

Matthew 6:6  Here’s what I want you to do:  Find a quiet secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and as honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense God’s grace.

Last summer, I read MaryAnn McKibben Dana’s book Sabbath in the Suburbs (an excellent book for parents of children and youth, in my honest opinion, and quite possibly for study in a church small group if folks could wrap their heads around the idea long enough to make space for it).  I almost chose Dana’s word, “sabbathly” for my one little word this year.  As I read Matthew 6:6 again today, it comes to mind.  MaryAnn was the keynote speaker at a conference I attended in late October.  She talked about Walter Brueggeman’s scriptural idea of “sevening ourselves.”  With that in mind, I went through my 2014 date book, and scheduled Sabbath time (because we all know that if Sabbath isn’t scheduled, it doesn’t happen … even for pastors … maybe especially for pastors):  one day of Sabbath every seven days, and one “weekend” of Sabbath every seven weeks, and one week of Sabbath every seven months.

At the conference, MaryAnn encouraged us to make our own Sabbath manifestos.  To set the guidelines of what Sabbath would look like for us in our individual contexts.  Mine included the following:

• Schedule it (check)
• Play
• Light candles, and be still.
• Connect with loved ones.
• Connect with God.
• Play music.

As I journaled this morning, it occurred to me again how  much I enjoy new calendars and the New Year.  There is something delicious about open spaces on a calendar that excites me and makes me happy.  Recognizing that, I look forward to the open spaces Sabbath will provide to just be with God, as simply and honestly as possible, so that the focus shifts from me to God, and I can sense God’s grace.