{"id":23256,"date":"2025-01-16T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/?p=23256"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:27:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T14:27:29","slug":"finding-a-word-for-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/2025\/01\/16\/finding-a-word-for-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a Word for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cOne word.\u201d It\u2019s a newer trend to ring in a new year foregoing the traditional New Year\u2019s resolution. Instead, you opt for a word or phrase that sets your intention for the coming year. Adventure, Inner Peace, Joy. You get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an alternative with some real benefits. Magellan Health<\/a> says a focus word, instead of a resolution, \u201cbecomes a filter and guide, helping you to grow in unexpected ways throughout the year.\u201d It can impact multiple dimensions of your life and is easier to stick to than a list of goals. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"word
Word Cloud by the author<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Looking ahead, 2025 holds uncertainty and fear around civil rights, human dignity, international relations, the environment, education, and more. It\u2019s created a tension in me that\u2019s brought me restless nights, anxious worry, and countless tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I captured some of my process of searching for \u201cone word\u201d for 2025 in the following poem. In sharing this, it is my hope that your own feelings \u2014 be it fear, uncertainty, anxiety, dread, despair, unease \u2014 may find comfort in sitting next to mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking God for a Word<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around me swirl lofty aspirations for the year ahead, 
Products of meaningful reflection, 
quiet moments in prayer, 
clear paths of spiritual growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They remain just outside my grasp,
too much for the knot in my stomach to absorb
As I lie in wait for a tide change that threatens to reach tragic depths, 
inundating houses, apartments, shelters,
and leaving behind the broken pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to run away and hide. I want to scream, No!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I close my eyes, and I reach for the God who is both 
More expansive
than the universe 
and Closer to me
than my own breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I ask,
What word wants to reside in me this year?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Courage \u2014
to turn on the news,
to remain connected to the suffering,
to do what must be done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Hope \u2014
to believe in collective goodness,
to be sure of my own capacity,
to face the worst of what could come?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Optimism \u2014
To remain open to opportunities,
To bet when the odds are against me,
to avoid the death-spiral of negative thoughts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Presence \u2014 
to find purpose in the small things,
To be fully alive in this very moment,
To let go of everything it\u2019s not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps it is Gentleness \u2014
to see in myself, my spouse  and my children, 
the parts that are overwhelmed, afraid, angry or sad,
 and to love them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or even Vulnerability \u2014
to ask for help, to be seen by others,
To trust that my emotions are doors to open,
not to shame or condemn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it  Safety \u2014
To protect our children,
To form networks of support,,
To band together and defend our rights?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Playfulness \u2014
to take myself less seriously,
To welcome more laughter,
to get in touch with my childlike side?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can\u2019t be Acceptance \u2014 too passive, too resigned.
But there is <\/em>one word that comes to my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I say it in a whisper; I say it with fear.
I think this is what my heart needs to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the Word became flesh, it took only three letters,
Uttered from the lips of an unexpected mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her Word resounds through the echoes of time
and reaches my ears \u2014 I want to make it mine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know how, but yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not ready, but yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I might get hurt, but yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, 2025. I will keep walking, because the Word is already alive in me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"woman
Image by Pexels on Pixaby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more on saying yes in uncertainty, see this post<\/a> by Sr. Julia and this podcast<\/a> with Melody Gee.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Emily
https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/contributors\/<\/a>Emily Cortina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Emily Cortina is a mother raising three bilingual, bicultural children alongside her Mexican husband. She advocates for transformative and restorative justice through her work in prison ministry and parish outreach at Kolbe House Jail Ministry<\/a><\/strong> in Chicago, Illinois. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cOne word.\u201d It\u2019s a newer trend to ring in a new year foregoing the traditional New Year\u2019s resolution. Instead, you opt for a word or phrase that sets your intention for the coming year. Adventure, Inner Peace, Joy. You get the idea. It\u2019s an alternative with some real benefits. Magellan Health says a focus word,...","protected":false},"author":149585913,"featured_media":23264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2178641],"tags":[698756804,20276,698756659,401,7816,29743,1720,1861871,698756805],"series":[698756626],"class_list":["post-23256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prayer-and-spirituality","tag-698756804","tag-courage","tag-emily-cortina","tag-faith","tag-god","tag-new-year","tag-poem","tag-poetry-2","tag-saying-yes","series-messy-jesus-business"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/one-word-hiding-pixaby-mprietou.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/feed\/podcast\/messy-jesus-business","embedCode":"

Finding a Word for 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>