Word of the Year is such a fadish thing that I kind of wonder about participating. But this word has been sitting in my head for a while now and it was just reinforced yet again.
LINGER
What does it mean to linger? According to the Google search definition, it means “stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave.”
Looking it up in the Webster’s 1828 dictionary you get :
1. To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow.
2. To hesitate; to be slow in deciding; to be in suspense.
3. To remain long in any state.
Isn’t that a beautiful idea – to stay in something for a long time that is interesting, unique, beneficial, etc?
I am determining that I need to linger more this year. I need to linger in God’s word. I need to linger in relationships. I need to linger in learning. I need to linger in peace and patience. I need to just slow down and experience, to hesitate, to stay and observe.
This is somewhat along the lines of intentionality but speaks more to the actual moment of being involved. Being intentional is a bit more about planning and thinking ahead. Lingering is about being present in the actual moment and taking the time to really be a part of it all.
In the scripture writing group I am involved with, a member recently posted about an interview she did with a brain expert. This expert noted that there is about a 20 second lag between your eyes seeing and your brain processing it or taking “significant notice” of it. That means, if I take time to linger over the message from God that I am writing down, my brain will notice more of it. I can see the same of any experience. Slow down and linger in the moment. Let your brain catch up. Find that joy that you might have otherwise blown past.
Linger.
Blessings in 2022,
Lori, At Home.
Tagged: life
At Home 
Lovely! I especially appreciate the mention of the time it takes for something to solidify in the brain. I too, would like to use that in Scripture study!
Bless you as you linger this year.
oh, good post. It’s what I am finding when I pray aloud, it helps me to better consider the words I am using and what I truly want to say.I’ve been considering being more a part of that facebook group..but handwriting doesn’t work so well for me as well… mine leaves MUCH to be desired! 🙂 So I’m considering alternatives…..
As with everything related to God, it is about what you are putting into it. You do not have to have beautiful handwriting. You don’t even have to hand write it. Type it. I know there are several who do this because their hands are affected by disease of some sort or another. Read the passage and then visit the Facebook group to read what others have gotten out of it that day. It isn’t just about the writing of the passage. It is about spending time seeing what God has given us in His word to enrich and beautify our lives of service to Him.