My Word of the Year

A new (to me?) trend I've noticed this year among my favorite bloggers are posts about their Word Of the Year.  It is a resolution/motto pared down to one word.  The idea intrigued me enough to seriously ponder how to describe in one compelling word that which I hope to accomplish this year.  The process was part examination of conscience part vocabulary challenge ;-)  Alas, after the fifth load of laundry and the innumerable chores later it came to me - SERVIAM, Latin for "I will serve", a heroic word uttered by St. Michael at the great battle to contradict Lucifer's "Non Serviam" ("I will not serve"). 

Serviam is a formidable word.  It is challenging me not to take what I do on a daily basis as unimportant or meaningless.  It is making me think of how best I could use my time instead of total squander. It is making me look at my vocation in the light of service not just to my husband and children but ultimately to God.  It is making me look at that fifth load of laundry as an act of love.  It is stopping me on my tracks as I begin to whine and descend into self-pity at the end (or beginning!) of a very long day.  It is making me look outside the comfort zone I have so carefully built around me.  It is making me think of how best to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is making me think I chose a very hard word!

Scripture images were in the heart of the choosing of this word - the story of the Good Samaritan, of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples - His laying down His life for His friends and the mystery of the Incarnation itself - God becoming man in the ultimate service/sacrifice of love.

This word also had me questioning a lot of things - why does God love (me), why did He lay his life down for me, why was I worth saving?  That is another post for another time!

Don't clap your hands just yet.  I am not a natural when it comes to service.  As the matriarch of this household, I see myself more as a queen and not a servant!  Sure, things get done around here and they are for the most part like clockwork but it is not always in the spirit of loving service.  Not that getting things done is bad in itself but it could use a dose of divine charity. Duty covered in love. And that's where serviam will challenge me.

The more I think about this word, the more it becomes alive and active, full of hope and joy.  It will keep me pondering, working, reading, praying and possibly crying ;-)

Serviam, it is my master this year.