It seems a little silly, right – to be talking about my word of the year in late March?

Last year my word was scaffolding. Weird word, absolutely incredibly meaningful.

(Here is my story from last year about choosing that word.)

Like a child pestering their Father asking what is next on a journey, I wanted to know what 2023 would hold.

It was like I was being told to wait. A few days would pass and I’d think about choosing a word again. I didn’t feel any rush or anxiety, so I just waited.

And in the sweetest nod from my Heavenly Father, there it was – scaffolding.

Where? Our very own Parish.

When? On Mary Alice’s First Holy Communion.

Scaffolding three times – three incredibly meaningful times – Christmas, our pilgrimage to Italy in Assisi, and now our own parish.

Our Lord knows that if I had chosen a new word for 2023, it may not have been as meaningful. I would have doubted if He was asking me to notice the unexpected scaffolding. If I had noticed it any other day, I would have wondered about the message He was sending.

So, I will gladly sit with “Scaffolding” for a second year!

I will ask St. Francis to pray for me as I understand what He is telling me. Yes, I am realizing as I write this the irony in asking St. Francis to help me understand His meaning and not rush off before sitting with this word for another year. And I will rejoice that He continues to show me that the sacraments are the scaffolding of His Church, sending us to heights we may not otherwise be able to reach without them.