Star Word: "rest"

And we're off!  This morning, Mom and I left Indianapolis and drove to Bettendorf, Iowa.  Not too long of a drive today, and plenty of time to dilly-dally along the way.  We stopped briefly in the town where I grew up (Galesburg, Illinois), to drop off a letter at the post office.  We spent just a few minutes checking out some of our old hotspots, most of which look very different since we moved from there 18 years ago!  We are stopping again at the end of our trip, so we will have more time to reminisce then.  We did more of the same tonight in the "Quad Cities," which was one of two places we frequented as a family growing up since there were not great shopping options in the town where we lived.  We even made a trip to see the outside of one of the malls where I found many of my Homecoming/Sweetheart Swirl/prom dresses.  Memories!

Here we are in the car before getting on the interstate this morning.

For those of you who have not heard of Epiphany star words, it is an opportunity for a person to draw (out of a basket, for example) or receive a word for the upcoming year.  This has become a more popular practice in recent years in churches, and congregants are usually given their word around Epiphany Sunday.  The word may or may not make sense at the time it is received (and honestly, it may or may not make sense at the end of the year!).  Yet it is a chance for the recipient of the word to be intentional, pay attention, and perhaps see something in a new light.

My star word this year is "rest."  I purchased this ornament from a Montreat friend on Etsy and also have the picture saved as the lock screen on my phone so I see it often.

I laughed to myself when I received my word this year.  I knew it was a sabbatical year for me.  And I knew that coming out of a pandemic and after my first three years of seminary, I needed rest like I hadn't needed it before.  I am so grateful for the time away - time truly to rest and rejuvenate and be renewed for the next season of ministry.