When I notice myself getting restless or frazzled, it is time to simplify and do my best to carve out extra time to read, be in nature, or show up in my artist studio. For most of my life, these places have allowed me to settle my soul and rejuvenate my spirit, especially during the busy and demanding times of year.
It’s part of life to be focused on performance, tasks, or a schedule, but sometimes, we need to rescue ourselves from life’s busyness, chaos, and expectations.
What do I mean when I say: Being rescued? It’s not to escape or run from something. It’s not to avoid or distract from something…It’s to be in that place of curiosity and creativity, that place of positive flow and energy, that place of peace, comfort, and tranquility.
This blog post comes to fruition as we come to the close of a calendar year. The holidays are in full swing…but the new year is knocking at our doorstep.
As we wrap up 2025, I reflect on my word of the year — RESCUE.
We might choose a word of the year to guide our actions and help us define our goals, much like setting resolutions. Yet a word of the year might be chosen or gifted to us – with the intention to help us grow, and deepen our inner life.
I started the year not knowing why this word popped up, but I heard it loud and clear. Rescue is not a word like trust, flourish, or simplify; it’s heavy and has a lot of meaning.
In late January 2025, I finished a year-long course, rooted in modern and ancient Christian Contemplative Wisdom. Throughout the course, we learn to ask ourselves, “How are we called to engage in the world?”
Reflection, deep listening, and prayer can guide us in our callings (to help others, to care for the earth…). I could have asked myself the five core questions to understand why this word appeared, but the answers, facts, and insights would not have revealed themselves all at once.
At one point, I considered changing my word, but that would mean I was controlling things and not letting myself be guided down the path of wisdom and possibility.
It’s a complicated process to unpack a word that is often associated with chaos, worry, distress, and suffering into a word of hope, meaning, and freedom.
How would you answer or consider these fundamental questions? Which of these questions resonates the most with where you are today?
WHO am I rescuing?
WHO is rescuing me?
WHAT am I rescuing?
WHAT is rescuing me?
WHEN am I rescuing?
WHEN am I being rescued?
WHERE am I rescuing?
WHERE am I being rescued?
WHY am I rescuing?
WHY am I being rescued?
HOW am I rescuing?
HOW am I being rescued?
All of these questions have a Call to Action (purpose) and an Outcome (fulfillment).
We are “Rescuers” when we are driven by love and duty. To be a “Rescuer” is to make a difference, to deliver from danger, confinement, or evil, to save from distress, being lost, or abandoned. To rescue is to respond to need and, through shared experience, build lasting bonds. What have you learned by rescuing others?
We are “Rescued” when we find hope, harmony, and calm. We are “Rescued” when we step outside ourselves to aid another, when we allow our compassion and empathy to deepen. We rescue ourselves when we recognize our clear, immediate purpose, or that loving place of connection, being led, being held, and being heard. Reflect on when you were rescued.
As the year comes to a close, I recognize gentle ways to transform despair into hope. We can save ourselves and others from worry, anxiety, distress, and spiritual darkness with small actions. Giving or receiving a compassionate glance, a listening ear, loving eyes, and a heartfelt embrace.
Life is embracing the light (joy) and the darkness (uncertainty). All our lives, we require rescuing (aid, connection, encouragement...) — it is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. We are all on our own spiritual journey. Healing, growth, and transformation lead to freedom. As we approach a new year, let's consider what that looks like for ourselves and others.
Peace Be with You.
JJH
Stay tuned for part 2 of this Rescue blog. :-)