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 reset. My coach and I are discussing the concept of prayer as a type of reset. Here are some of the definitions for reset that I’m reflecting on:
1. to set again or anew
2. to adjust again after an initial failure
3. to change the reading of often to zero
4. to restore a gauge or dial to zero
5. to clear out a system to make it work again
6. change the time on a clock
7. to put a broken bone back into the correct position
8. On a computer, factory reset is essentially the same as reformatting the hard drive. A factory reset may become necessary on a device which is no longer working, but the function should be used with caution, as it destroys all stored data. Many problems such as freezing can be resolved by performing a factory reset. System restore is similar to factory reset except you can choose the place on the computer to return to and no data is lost.
I thought the word “reset” *seemed* like the right word for me, and indeed I kept telling myself that it *seemed* right. But last night I awoke, startled, from a deep sleep, and I knew my word was “acceptance.” It tingled within me, even though I didn’t like it much – didn’t think it sounded creative or interesting. On the other hand, in a short 24 hours, that word has resonated within me several times as I have tried to *strive* for this or that. It says, “Be at peace. This is how it is, and that’s okay. Sometimes it’s even better than okay.”
My word is TEMPLE.
Ancient traditions designated the time after the “Householder” role (raising children, working in the world) for “Entering the Temple”: devoting several years to spiritual study, after which one was ready to do their Life’s Work.
Alternatively, one may embrace the world as a Temple, and each dawn we are invited to “Enter the Holy.”
From the mini-retreat, here is my poem:
T – take time for Being
E – each day is young
M – make a quiet space
P – pause from the Doing
L – leave all cares behind
E – enter the Holy NOW
My word for 2013 is Integrity. Which represents truth,wholeness,and authenticity. Doing what one said they would do, know that is right to do,be true to oneself and being in an empowering positive frame.
My word for 2013…Reflect….
My word is Emmanuel. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more deeply a desire for God to be with us. God seems far away this Christmas as the darkness of violence and the potential of financial disaster loom in our society. “God with us,” coming in the flesh, today.
My word is Desire. I want to slow down my life to begin listening and discovering what is my heart’s desire. Desire speaks to me of a longing, a craving – I want to know what it is I desire. I work very hard, I take care of my family, but what is it that I truly desire? Not merely what I want or need, but this word “desire” speaks to something in me that much more elusive – something more soulful, more intimate, more grounding.
My word for 2013 is JOY…J…Jesus…O …others…Y…you. This was my theme for my Christmas cards and even my Christmas candle. Thanks for all the JOY you spread in this world, too, Christine.
Merry Christmas.
Nancy
My word for now and 2013 is TRUST. I am growing into trusting in the promises of God and living in this trust associated with so much mystery. I want to live a life of trust without the need to understand.
My word for 2013 will be “tenacious”. I had a cardiac scare the end of October and realize that I need to change many things about my lifestyle in order to live the amazing life I have been given and share this journey with those who may also be struggling to find balance and courage to face the challenges of becoming an woman of more mature years. I want to face the new season of my life with courage, humor, wisdom and friendship. My life will become a treasure to share and to nuture, and I will with guidance and a listening ear begin to renew and restore my health and vitality to carry me through this season and the season and changes to come. Fear has no room to settle in and take over, I am on watch.
My word is serendipity, despite my reluctance to embrace it. To me it sounds so twee – like the name of a country cottage or grandads sailboat perhaps. But, no matter, it is my word because it sticks even thought I have tried to throw it away many times over the last week. So there it is, serendipity.