Year ZERO & Year ONE

I recently read this in Rob Bell’s newest book How to Be Here:

“You” has never been attempted before. Whoever you are and whatever work you do, no one has ever lived your life with your particular challenges and possibilities.
SO true! And honestly, “You” can be tough. 

And so today I have a word for you… HENEINI. (Heh-Nay-Nee)

It’s a hebrew word that appears 8 times in the first part of the bible called the Old Testament. 
When it does appear, it’s typically spoken by people who are on the precipice of change… the brink of transition… standing on the edge of their path and what lies before them is uncertain, unknown and uncomfortable… and God asks them where they are and they reply… 
HENEINI - “Here I Am.” 

Life is truly a gift, but it can feel overwhelming and scary and nerve-racking and difficult all at once… especially when your path forward seems unknown… it can even feel that way when your path seems predictable as the monotony and routine familiarity makes days feel ordinary. 

So when that begins to happen to the miraculous and never-done-before experiment of “You,” say HENEINI…  just show up… just take that first step. Don’t be worried about all the steps out ahead. Don’t get bogged down by or paralyzed by those feelings. Just say, “Here I am.” Take that step. And once you take it… look for the next one... and on and on. 

Now here’s another set of words… PROVEHITO IN ALTUM. 
It’s Latin and means “launch forth into the deep” … isn’t that cool?

“You are in a wonderful place. Nerves are God’s gift to you , reminding you that your life is not passing you by. Make friends with the butterflies. Welcome them when they come, revel in them, enjoy them, and if they go away , do whatever you can to put yourself in a position where they return. Better to have a stomach full of butterflies than to feel like your life is passing you by.” -Rob Bell

You’re alive… you’re in it… creating a GOOD story… responding to the gift of life you’ve received… HENEINI… show up… take that next step… out into the unknown… dive into the mystery… launch forth into the deep. 

Remember, “You” has never been attempted before. May you embrace the grand experiment of “You” and show up all day long.

Now here are some lyrics from a favorite song of mine  titled Middle written by a band named Jimmy Eat World... it's a throwback for sure:

Hey, don’t write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away

It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right

Hey, you know they're all the same
You know you're doing better on your own so don't buy in
Live right now, Just be yourself
It doesn't matter if that's good enough for someone else

It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right

Hey, don’t write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on
Just do your best, Do everything you can
Don't you worry what their bitter hearts are going to say

It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right