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 “Live!” Live the joy, live the pain, live the exuberance live the hope live the love.
My word is Expectancy. I am looking forward to the surprises and synchronicities to occur in 2013 as they did in 2012. I will try to be more alert to these than ever.
The word that has chosen me for 2013 is Sabbath, as in the sixth principle of the Monk Manifesto, particularly the part about “resisting a culture of busyness that measures my worth by what I do.”
My word for 2013 is Zerrissenheit, from Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s book, Gift from the Sea. It means “torn-to-pieces-hood.” I was caregiver for my mom for over 8 years; Mom passed away December 4. Though I am still homeschooling, I desperately need the quiet time and solitude Lindbergh speaks about in this chapter, “Moon Shell.”
My word is Soulness – it has a warmth that is nurturing and a protective softness. It calls me to pay attention to what welcomes me in love.
My word for the year is….”Abundance”….opening to the abundance that is so available..when we are open to receiving…
Thank You!!!!
My word is “trust.”
Life is calling me now to step out beyond the small identity I have been into a braver, bolder, more action-oriented self. I need to trust this call and act on it.
My son, now 17 and soon to be 18, will be leaving in the fall for college. I need to trust that he will find his life’s path and be well.
My word is Beloved. Its challenge to me is to truly believe that I am beloved of God and intrinsically deserving of God’s blessings and graces.
My word is ‘ekklesia,’… -come, gather at the stone.
This is my word for the next two years, crossing the thresholds where the heart lifts up and is draped by the soul.
My word is Embrace…. or me there have been so many changes in the past year and challenges that this year I believe I am being asked to to relax and embrace the place they have brought me to.