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We are three-quarters of the way through the year. Christmas and the new year will be here before we know it. This means there are less than three months remaining for this year’s One Word. Less than three months for me to understand what the heck “Jubilee” means.

I didn’t want or choose that word; it chose me. And after reading about it and doing some research, I just knew “jubilee” meant music for me. And that’s how the year began. That’s how the first six months of this year played out — in lyrics and melodies and time in the studio.

But then it all stopped. Once again, roadblocks were put up, and it all came to a screeching halt. The last three months have been filled with overwhelming silence. For someone who lives and breathes music, I’ve been suffocating. I can barely stand to listen to music anymore — not because I don’t want to, but because it’s a reminder of what’s missing in my life. When alone in the car, I ride in silence for the first time in my life. When alone in my house, instead of music, I now hear outside sounds . . . birds chirping, dogs barking, cars passing.

I won’t stand in defiance and say I wasn’t wrong. Maybe “jubilee” doesn’t mean music for me. Maybe I read too much into it. Perhaps I was too hopeful.

Maybe it was supposed to mean restoration. Then again, that seems like a long shot too.

So here’s the thing: I’m going with what I first believed. Until I can identify that “jubilee” means something other than music for me, I’m done waiting for the roadblocks to come down. I’m tired of wasting time on trying to talk them down. I’m going off road and simply bypassing the roadblocks. It might be a rockier path, one I have to work harder to travel, but I’m pressing forward and turning up the music.

I’m not exactly sure what lies ahead. But I took a tiny, first step yesterday. And continuous, tiny steps eventually add up to distance. And there’s no better way to travel than turning up the music and singing along.

Did you have a One Word for this year? If so, what significance has it had in your life? If not, is there something that keeps showing up in your life that you need to pay attention to? What will you do with the remaining three months of this year?

Take a tiny step today, then another tomorrow. Let’s go on a journey together and finish this year with goals in mind. And don’t forget to turn up the music!

 

See all articles in 31 Days of Showing Up