It's taken me long enough to write out this moodling, though I have been thinking about it for the past three weeks or so. Of course, I didn't even get myself a 2025 wall picture calendar until last week, and had to search in the back of the store because, well, there weren't many left, and most people get their calendars before a new year begins. So I guess what I'm saying is that it's taking me a while to settle into even the idea of 2025.
But in my reflections about what this year ahead means for me, I've come to the conclusion that my word for the year is Teamwork, simply because it feels like teamwork is the story of my life right now.
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| Somebody got a haircut last week! |
Lee, Suzanna and I are the team training Remi-pup, working together with help from a course through the Edmonton Humane Society, to get him socialized and behaving himself. We all have to work together to be consistent in our methods, so that he knows what we expect of him in different situations. We really want him to be a joy to everyone he meets.
Being associate pastor for the Community of Emmanuel at Inner City Pastoral Ministry also requires a new kind of teamwork for me. Because I've been part of the community for almost five years, most of what I am and will be doing has come pretty naturally, but now that my role has been "formalized," more effort is required to communicate with my co-pastor and other folks simply because we have more shared responsibilities.
As lunch coordinator for ICPM, my work was separate from daily operations and I was able to fill gaps around the edges for our two pastors most Sunday mornings, but now I'm in the thick of things (and loving it, for the most part!), tied down to music ministry or helping to lead the service. There are a few other weekly things, like Table Time for handing out donated supplies to the folks in Boyle/McCauley, Thursday Bible study, and a monthly Women's Group where I'm in charge of leading the ladies in spiritual discussions. What's great is that other good people are stepping forward to fill the gaps that Pastor Quinn and I can't cover. Our team is expanding with more wonderful volunteers joining in our teamwork!
I've also been thinking a lot about the teamwork in my marriage with Lee. He's been hugely helpful with so many things since he's semi-retired, especially family gatherings and other events that require a lot of effort on my part. The days of doing everything myself (and having a bit of a martyr complex because of it at times if I'm honest) seem to be in the past. Lee and I work really well together. We always have, but now that we're both getting older, maybe I'm just appreciating it more. I love him so much, and appreciate his care for me, especially when I'm too tired to do much but stare into space, which has been the case for much of the last three weeks as I settle into all the new things I'm learning and doing.
Fortunately, things are leveling out now, and there will be room for a few other teamwork possibilities that may or may not be landing on my plate. With the federal and municipal elections coming up this year, I expect there will be more to do to make the need for affordable housing an election issue through the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. And a team of "good neighbours" is forming around a new supportive housing building for homeless/low-income folks that will open in April in our neighbourhood. So teamwork opportunities are abounding in my life.
Teamwork is a pretty obvious choice for my word of the year. How about you? What is your word of the year?
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