Sensory Challenge for Present (Word of the Year 2023)

A Word of the Year is a method for deliberately integrating or focusing on something for the whole year. One way to do that is to seek our sensory involvement with the word. I’m trying that this month, in particular sight, sound, and touch.

Seeing present

Before the pack out from manila, I had a note on my desk that reminded me ‘PRESENT’. But I don’t have one now, as we wait for our shipment of belongings. So, I decided it was time to create a phone wallpaper with a key verse on it. It isn’t easy to choose, but I narrowed it down to these two:

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. Jude 1:24

[Grace teaches us] to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:12

The verse from Jude speaks to me of the presents that God has bestowed upon us, keeping us from stumbling/without fault and with great joy, to then be a present to God himself. In this verse, it seems that the present time and activity of our sanctification is also in preparation for us to be presents. This gift then is for those around us as well as God himself.

I am reminded of parents who see their children after a while and they are so pleased to just spend time together, and they enjoy the grown person they have become, the personality and how they see similarities of their spouse as well. We too grow into the person that God designed, taking on the character of Christ which pleases him.

So, I have made this wallpaper to remind me of the presents that he has bestowed upon us as well as the present that he is preparing.

Hearing present

I’m challenged to consider hearing ‘present’. If it be the now or a gift, both are challenging to hear. I will turn to youtube, where I just spent entirely too long looking for a song to put on loop. But I think that it was time well-worth it when it is spent in praise. I was struck by how many song sing of the presence of the Lord, but one in particular invites our active God to come. Francesca Battistelli’s Holy Spirit invites God into the present that we may experience his gifts.

I hope you enjoy the song as I did, inviting God to participate in your life and show you his goodness and glory.

Touching present

I think the natural thought is to go find a present to hold for a while. But I am reminded once again that we have just moved – we don’t even have wrapping paper, let alone a gift. But perhaps I am most reminded of the gift of communicating even long distances for (virtually) free. It seems that not too long ago, it cost an arm and a leg to stay in contact with people over long distances. Now we have WhatsApp and Viber and Facebook and Facetime (and more) all to communicate without spending additional money (beyond the internet connection). That has been the greatest gift that I recognize today. So, I’ll hold my phone in my hand and smile as I respond to messages and keep in touch with dear friends.

The other thing that keeps passing through my mind is that this is the present. Just breathe. Pause, and enjoy the moment. No looking for what’s next, no regret over what’s done. Just breathe. Praise the Lord. Just breathe.

Sensory challenge

Lisanotes also ups the challenge to those of us following her for Word of the Year encouragement to try to taste and smell our words. Maybe you can suggest how I can do that. What does your present with God look like today? On a scale of ‘Just breathe to make it through the day’ …. to…. ‘I’m at peace’… tell me about your present.

Feel free to download a wallpaper below.