MY GUIDING WORD FOR 2026: BEGIN

The beginning is always today. ~ Mary Shelley

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads. ~ Anatole France

I like to follow the spiritual practice of choosing a guiding word for the new year, one that will serve as a centering theme for living my days. Christine Valters Paintner of The Abbey of the Arts describes the practice as asking for a word that will nourish and challenge… a word (to) wrestle with and grow into… a word that has the potential to transform… *

This year, the word, BEGIN, came to me on one of my morning walks, and it was quickly confirmed when I heard a podcaster say, “Just do it. Life is short!” Once home, I looked up Bible passages around the idea of beginning and found several treasures to further guide my thoughts.

The word BEGIN inspires and encourages me in several ways.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away;
look, new things have come into being!
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

As I approach the age of 70 years–and after having had cancer years ago–I am mindful of the brevity and preciousness of life. So, I have this tendency to consider my remaining years as a time to “wrap things up”–to slow down, pull back, simplify, and focus on finishing what needs to be finished. But I also want to invest myself in worthy pursuits, to make the most of each day, to do whatever good I can do in the time that I have. Then, I become hesitant when I question whether I have the time, energy, or ability to do things well!

BEGIN guides me to regard the next decade as a new beginning, not an ending of life. The word offers a more hopeful perspective, that my 70s could be an era of exciting opportunities for learning, serving, and living well. In what ways will my age become a gift? Will I find that I have a bit of wisdom and insight to share from these years of life experiences? Could I honor my physical need for slowing by choosing fewer but better things to pursue? Instead of counting down the days, will I choose to gratefully welcome each additional day? My heart warms just to consider these possibilities.

~~~~~~~~~~

When clouds are full,
they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
Whoever observes the wind will not sow,
and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.
(Ecclesiastes 11:3-4)

Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.
~ Joseph B. Wirthlin

BEGIN also prompts me to “Just do it! Go ahead and start!” I hope the word will guide me to simply begin a new idea or project, instead of weighing how much time or effort it will take—even when the goal seems daunting. I hope to be more courageous and free-spirited about beginning new ventures that I have held in my heart, like writing another book, creating new retreats, learning sign language, bringing out my guitar to play again, exploring a new topic, or making a long spiritual pilgrimage. I want to take the first step without letting the size of the task (or my lack of confidence) intimidate me. I hope to see my curiosity become an invitation to explore. Each new beginning will have something to reveal, wherever it may lead.

~~~~~~~~~~

Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
(Isaiah 43: 18-19)

BEGIN gives me hope for the world. Are we learning very difficult lessons that will help us to do better in the future? This year, what “new thing” might arise if we–individually and together–more faithfully seek justice, offer compassion, live with humble integrity, and serve with generosity and love?

~~~~~~~~~~

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24)

Finally, BEGIN gives me a change in perspective on life itself; to regard each day as a chance to begin anew. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, so mistakes become wisdom. Regrets become second chances. Dreams become realities. Heartaches become inspirations. Disappointments become better endings. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. May I welcome each day as a fresh and gracious new beginning–and perhaps, make it so for others, too. Thank you, God.

And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

May you feel richly blessed, peacefully centered, and joyfully surprised in the year ahead, dear reader friends. Thank you for your companionship here.


(Photo by my sister Janet)

https://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2025/12/11/give-me-a-word-2026/