Word of the day... well, year.

Today I was looking for some inspiration, so I looked up the word of the day.

adventive \ ad-VEN-tiv \ , adjective;

1.

Not native and usually not yet well established,

as exotic plants or animals.

This word definitely describes my life. I am amazed at how one year your life is full of promise, you have everything in your future, and before you realize it you start to look back and suddenly, you're a "late bloomer." This is not a feel sorry for me kind of thing. I don't despise people thinking of me this way, I just kind of laugh about it.

I used to think that I was in a good place, I was pretty mature for my age, I was getting an education and I was pretty content with my life. I mean I was still single and still looking, but I was in my early twenties so I had plenty of time.

Now, I am at the point in my life where chances of finding a husband start to decline, I'm working a job I hate (or at least let's just say I don't want to do forever) to just make ends meet, and live at home. People spend a great deal of time judging my actions because they think that they know me, then advising me because they think I can' t get my life "together" on my own.

I will admit I'm not the wisest person with how I ALWAYS spend my time and resources. I will even admit that I have made mistakes that have kept me from having the life I'd wanted. Many would say that to have an adventive life is to not flourish. But if I may, without being too self-serving, I'd like to disagree. There is something about being adventive that is wildly beautiful. Look at any rainforest plant or animal, wild and exotic. (Now, I'll admit, I'm not an exotic beauty, but I am speaking of the metaphysical here so bear with me.)

In fact, the origin of this word comes from the same Latin root that adventure comes from--adventus meaning "an advance." (Funny that we just finished our season of ADVENT, which is a season of expectation, and now I find myself reflecting on a word so similar in meaning and spelling.)

Anyhow, I find these similarities fitting. My life, though lacking in financial and educational securities therefore being considered "not well established," is constantly an adventure. I see the Lord move in my life in powerful and subtle ways. I also see Him guide and shape my world every year in new ways--you could say every year is "an advance" in my life.

So, this year rather than mourning that I am not where I wished I would be with a better job, or with "the one," or in my own apartment... I am going to celebrate. I am going to celebrate the adventure my life has been and I know is going to be in 2012. I am going to party like it's 1999 and drink in all the wild beauty a life with God has to offer because whether it is a life of security or an adventive life the adventure is all in what you do with it.