Significant

James Bergen, my pastor and teammate, is a man who uses his words carefully. He puts weight into what he says and does not waste his breath with rambling, gossip, or "thinking out loud". In his sermons, conversation, and witty banter you can tell he has thought through what he is going to say. He is in tune with what is going on around him and rarely repeats himself.

Which is why I find it interesting that, after a few weeks of repeatedly throwing out a particular word in my own conversations, I can trace it back to him.

That word is significant.

sig·nif·i·cant/siɡˈnifikənt/

adjective sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

This autumn was an attention-grabber for me and many people around me.

My Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in October and was immediately thrown into a season of consultations, procedures, and well-wishes. She has had to step out of her classroom, her community, and her normal routine in order to heal. Instead of wandering through the rows of desks in Room 52 and speaking about Japan or Islam or compound sentences she is trying to get comfortable in her living room recliner. It is a huge shift on all accounts. And not just for her but for her family, her coworkers, her students. 

Within my own community and around the world it seems there are recent events and conversations that have changed the course of history on an individual and global scale.

People have gotten married.
Had children.
Applied for grad school.
Broken bones.
Felt their city shaken with violence and fear.
Felt their neighborhood redeemed with warm blankets and a demand for reform.
Seen God move in ways they never expected.

This is an important time.

sig·nif·i·cant/siɡˈnifikənt/

adjective having a particular meaning; indicative of something.

In the Liturgical calendar, we have just started the season of Advent and, with that, the beginning of a new year.
(Are we supposed to sing "Auld Lang Syne" for this transition?) As a Church we talk about the birth of Christ and God's redemption story for the world. We sing songs, make crafts, and give gifts to celebrate this special season. For the kids I interact with, this is the highlight of their year! For some of the adults I spend time with, this is the most stress-filled and anxiety-producing time of the year.

There is a lot going on.

People are attending church services.
Buying presents and decking halls.
Serving food to the less fortunate.
Waiting in lines.
Complaining about the corporate approach to Christmas.
Praying with power for their community and world.
Seeing God move in ways they never expected.

This is an important time.

sig·nif·i·cant/siɡˈnifikənt/

adjective of, relating to, or having significance.

I am engaging this season with confidence and exhaustion. There are many big events and meaningful conversations that have occurred for me in a short amount of time. From writing papers to wandering trails I have seen God's ultimate authority and my own emotional and physical limitations. It is a beautiful season in my life but one that is still plagued with doubt and fear and distraction. But I believe it is going to be good. And I believe it is worth paying attention to.

This is an important time.

May your season be significant.