Ubiquitous? I have to stop and think how to spell it. Every time. Ubiquitous does not lend itself to enchanting landscape photos, bright balloons, or elegant script. But it is the word that has been churning in my brain for the last four days. Over and over.
Maybe I saw it on a list of “Q” words. New Year’s Eve I discovered a free app for Scrabble – so addictive. I had no idea that you could play against the computer, it has taken me back to playing Scrabble with my mother. She did crossword puzzles in ink and knew every two letter word that existed. Hey mom, you would be proud, I have beat the computer at least four times. I have also burned batches of cookies and lost sleep over having seven consonants staring back at me with no vowel for relief.
Too many letters I told myself, ubiquitous has ten letters, you only studied lists of six letters and under. Why ubiquitous? Why are you in my brain? I went digging for its origin and synonyms. Originating from the Latin words “ubi” which means where and “ubique” which means everywhere. That was straight forward, but what caught my breath were the synonyms. Universal. Infinite. Unfathomable. Omnipresent.
Omnipresent. My theology chain rattled. God word.
A God word meaning present in all places at all times.
Except when children drown. Or when jobs were lost. Then it was a God word that seemed to mean present for someone else. Or present if you had been good enough or prayed the right combination of prayers, or said enough of them every night.
More synonyms. Commonplace. Everyday. Familiar. Garden-variety. Household. Synonyms that are earthy, not ethereal. Perennial. Ceaseless. Words I know.
Ubiquitous. Maybe that means finding God in the perennial and ceaseless dandelions that are blooming in January and not as the omnipresent stalker watching and waiting in every moment for me to screw up. Could he be the ubiquitous God of the kitchen table laden with bits of mail and cookie crumbs? Could he be a God who sits with coffee and drops hints of how to use a “j” and a “q” in the same word, and have it land on a triple-word square?
I don’t have the answers. I wish I had a more sleek word. I tried to shake ubiquitous but it remained perched on my shoulder. So ubiquitous and I signed up for One Word 365. One word to explore and aspire to for the year.
Do you have a word pinging you? Does choosing a word resonate with you rather than a list of resolutions? Please share, I would love to hear what word rings true for you.
it’s funny, my post is about my word for 2016 – which is Embrace. I’ve linked up with a group who’ve been sharing their words for the year. Yours is really unusual and it will be interesting to see how you live it out in the year ahead.
Hi Leanne, I love your word! Ubiquitous is certainly going to make for an interesting 2016. I am really loving this one word thing – much easier to focus on a single word. Thank you for visiting and sharing your word.
I’m doing another Photo 365 and a “100 Strangers” – at least trying. I didn’t know there was a word 365. That is so cool. What do you do with the daily word? Is it provided? Or do you have to find it?
Hi Deirdre,
Oh, a Photo 365, how cool! I want to do one of those also! You chose your own word and then work with it all year. We are supposed to blog about it two or three times to share how it is shaping us, changing our perspectives. It is a neat concept. Are you going to be posting your photos for Photo 365? I would love to see them.
Oh, Terri, what a word. It’s calling to you, clearly. I love what you’ve done with it already, how you’ve unpacked its meanings, both theologically and in the mundane. Yes to finding out what it means to you this year. My word is soar, which came to me all of a sudden and I tried to fight it but like yours it stuck. I see it as taking off, with writing in some ways, but also about perspective and self-care.
Your faith makes me think my writing friend Julia’s blog would interest you: http://studiesinhope.com She focuses beautifully on grief and grace.
Dear Dana,
Self-care and perspective, what a great insight for your word, soar. It makes me think of flying over the midwest and seeing how neatly laid out are all the farms and roads, and how vast our country is, spacious and beautiful. A perspective I can’t get from the confines of my small town in central Maryland. I think you are going to have an intriguing year of exploring new perspectives from different vantage points!
I had a lovely visit at Julia’s blog, thank you for sharing her link. Her last post about recognizing progress already made and building on what we have already done changed my perspective.
Wonderful writing! And so nice to visit your blog via the Women of Midlife. Playing Scrabble and Words with Friends has taught me so much about starting small and building slowly, letter by letter. It does get easier, doesn’t it.
Hello Mithra,
Thank you for your visit and kind words! Yes, letter by letter and before you know it, you have something wonderful and meaningful.
Wishing you a happy New Year filled with delightful surprises!
That is a great word! My word for 2016 is welcoming. I am welcoming change and success into my life and people into my home during 2016. I am also welcoming the idea that it is okay to be happy when I feel happy.
I am addicted to scrabble blast and words with friends. I always play before I write:)
Happy New Year!
I love your word Doreen! I started a book study in our home the summer of 2014. I stopped worrying that we have a very small home and that it needs much work, I stopped worrying about the yard and the cat hair. None of our chairs match, some have pillow cases over the covers because the fabric is frayed, but none of that seemed to matter to those who came. I was so grateful and humbled, and nourished by their presence. We have great food, abundant wine, the door is open to any who want to come whether they have read or not and it has been extraordinary. Sometimes those demons of new paint and lovely styling creep in, but I have learned to light some candles, throw on a cloth tablecloth, and chill the wine. I get the sense that your home must feel like a wonderful hug, very warm and inviting.
So neat that you play word games before you write, I know that playing Scrabble again has ignited my brain in different places, makes me think and play – all good stuff for writing.
Thanks for your visit, I hope you have a lovely weekend!