Share your Word for 2013
In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to God and to their own inner struggles at work within them. The desert became a place to enter into the refiner’s fire and be stripped down to one’s holy essence. The desert was a threshold place where you emerged different than when you entered.
Many people followed these ammas and abbas, seeking their wisdom and guidance for a meaningful life. One tradition was to ask for a word – this word or phrase would be something on which to ponder for many days, weeks, months, sometimes a whole lifetime. This practice is connected to lectio divina, where we approach the sacred texts with the same request – “give me a word” we ask – something to nourish me, challenge me, a word I can wrestle with and grow into. The word which chooses us has the potential to transform us.
- What is your word for the year ahead? A word which contains within it a seed of invitation to cross a new threshold in your life?
Share your word in the comments section by Tuesday, January 8th and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below).
A free 12-day online mini-retreat to help your word choose you. . .
This year I am offering all Abbey newsletter subscribers a gift: a free 12-day online mini-retreat with a suggested practice for each day to help your word choose you and to deepen into your word once it has found you.
Sign up here and you can start your mini-retreat today. Once you subscribe you will receive a confirmation email with access to the mini-retreat content (and you are free to unsubscribe at any time). If you are already a subscriber, the invitation will be in this week’s email newsletter.
Win a Prize – Random Drawing Giveaway on January 7th!
Some wonderful friends of the Abbey have offered fabulous prizes to be included in this drawing held from all of the names who participate:
- from Christine Valters Paintner of Abbey of the Arts: a space in the online Lenten retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
- from Kayce Stevens Hughlett of Diamonds in the Soul: a signed copy of her book As I Lay Pondering: Daily Invitations to Live a Transformed Life
- from Dana Reynolds at Sacred Life Arts: a space in her online class The Book of Wonderment and a signed copy of her brand new novel Ink and Honey
- from Ronna Detrick: a space in her online class Soulstice: Develop a Meaningful Spiritual Practice
- from Roy DeLeon of Now Praying: a signed copy of his book Praying with the Body and personalized body prayer for your favorite Psalm
- from Tess Giles of Pilgrim’s Moon: a print of the beautiful banner art by Rima Staines
- from Velma Frye: a copy of her CD “Seven Sacred Pauses” and “Take Heart”
- from Richard Bruxvoort Colligan: a copy of each of his Psalm CDs “Sharing the Road” and “Shout for Joy”
- from Trish Bruxvoort Colligan of River’s Voice: a copy of her CDs “Breath” and “Unfolding”
- from Mary Sharratt: a copy of her novel Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard of Bingen
- from Waverly Fitzgerald of Living in Season: a copy of her French Republican Calendar for 2013 and a copy of her New Year Dreams E-book
- from Betsy McCall of the Art Monastery: an original art print
- from Paula Huston: a copy of her latest book Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practies for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life
Pretty wonderful, isn’t it? Make sure to check out the links to their websites for all kinds of goodness and thank them for supporting the Abbey!
So please share your word (and a sentence about what it means for you) with us below. Subscribe to the Abbey newsletter for your free gift. Share the love with others and invite them to participate. Then stay tuned – on January 7th I will announce the prize winners!
844 Responses
My word is PAUSE
I am an interpreter for the deaf so clarifying the meaning of a word and the intention of the message is of paramount importance to me. Should the word “pause” come up without context I would need to know “pause” as in suspend speech/activity for a brief moment/ the breath between thoughts or “paws” as in large clumbsy (sp?) hands or the “feet” of an animal. This word came to me clearly as something for me to ponder…In this new year I will pause,take a breath before I put “feet” to my thoughts or offer “clumbsy hands” hastily.
My word has been and is DESIRE.
The desire for a connection to God is an ongoing longing in me. One that just won’t be satisfied. I’m not sad about that. I am happy to desire.
Listen – I feel this word, listen, in my heart as I want to listen more to what is said and not said, to what I see and do not see, to what may be under the words people are speaking, under the words that I am speaking, and under what I think I see around me. I want to listen to what is under the surface. I want to listen to who I am, what is under the surface of me. I have much to learn from this word – listen.
My word is DELIGHT. I tend to always be thinking of the next thing to do, the next thing to deal with. I want to take the time to savor things, to delight in all the wonderful things in the universe.
My word is DEPHING
Unless I consciously deepe my life with the God of Life and with Life itself, I risk taking as normal the ugliness and sadness of this world – violence, poverty hostility …. when there is so much beauty that has the power to heal humanity and bring us all to hope. And the responsibility for this transformation lies with each one of us – and for me in deep stillness nd openness
“Grateful” …. how I want to spend my days and the response I feel after a very fruitful year of “yes”
THIRTEEN: moving from the intensity and shift at the end of this Mayan long count twelve, into the profound and expansive energy of the thirteen, where mypractice of knowing the I AM , the oneness of humanity is truly an invitation to a Holy Practice indeed.
My word is SANCTITY….in all of life & in every moment of mine & everyone’s life,,,,through the Divine presence
My word is ABANDON. It is stitched into a phrase, an instruction: “Abandon yourself to God”. A dictionary definition that captures this: “to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses, usually without self-control”. This word has had such negative connotations in my life but now is coming alive in me in a new way.
My word is wholeheartedly. I want to live 2013 all in.