T: Theme

My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1 NASB

What is the theme of your life? Here are some definitions I found of the word theme to help you begin to think about the theme of your life:
-a unifying or dominating idea
-in music: a short melodic subject from which variations are developed.
-in linguistics: A word or phrase in a sentence, usually providing information from previous discourse or shared knowledge, that the rest of the sentence elaborates or comments on. Also called theme.


So when you look at the glass, is it half full, or half empty? Typically, I feel like my cup is overflowing. Even if I considered the glass to have “less” in it, I would find some way to see the light heartedness of the missing quantity, and be thankful for what I had. People ask me how I am and my answer is typically the same: I’m great. And even if I’m not, I am. It’s almost as if I don’t know how to be any other way. That level of optimism always seems to come out in the way I write, too. I may not always be perky. I get tired (more like weary) and discouraged sometimes, but I can’t stay there.

Do you know your themes? I did some reading about this on the internet. There’s quite a bit on there. One of the suggestions for discovering your themes is to think of two of your most favorite books. Once those are identified, look at the lead characters and consider the ways you most connect with them. If that doesn’t help, try using music or movies. Your themes will surface in the things you connect with or are drawn to.

Why would it be important to understand the themes in your life? I believe that when we can understand the things that motivate us and define us then we can operate more freely and fully. Whether we realize it or not our themes become filters for the decisions that we make. Wouldn’t it be better to know what those are and work with them instead of against them? And when we can understand the process in ourselves we will be better adept at understanding and working with the themes in our children, family, and co-workers.

Now, while some themes are just part of who we are, we can choose to add themes to our lives as well. I was thinking about this as I was contemplating the quickly arriving New Year and the dreaded process of making resolutions. What if instead of making a list of promised do’s and don’ts for 2010 we spent some of our quiet time allowing the Spirit to bring a theme to the surface that could serve as a guide for our decisions and relationships? Write it on a card, cross-stitch it, put it on your computer wallpaper, place it wherever you need to so that you will be reminded of that theme. Then when you have a tough decision to make you can be reminded, when relationships are stalled or strained, when you want to give up or give in, you will find renewed strength, hope, determination, or peace to get you through. It sure sounds like something that could stick with us beyond the first week of January.

Many years ago I tried this and my word was contentment. I wasn’t sure I liked all the implications, but I trusted when it came to me that I needed to heed it. It was a rough year that resulted in many personal sacrifices, but with each one I was able to come through with a deeper sense of peace and trusting . I’ve been praying for a theme for next year. I’m starting to see what it may be. I’m excited and challenged. Do you know your themes? What theme will guide you for the future?