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
relax, reset, refocus
The word with which I will sit in 2013 is “explore.” I am looking forward to the possibilities…
Dear Christine, thanks for this fresh take on the twelve days of Christmas. Reading the entries is equally wonderful. Thank you, all! A phrase shanghaied me on day five: extend your orbit. I duly googled, Roget-ed and prayed some more. Dipped back into Rilke (“I live my life in widening circles”). Seems my phrase is about deep space–outer and inner–and oh, how I long to engage more deeply and broadly with God and this world, although, to be honest, I’m alternately inspired and dismayed, curious (in slang, orbit means ecstatic, euphoric, over the moon), unnerved (will this heart hyperextend, again?), and delighted (in Singlish, orbit means “desperately out of fashion”).
Wisdom–may I sit with the facts and ‘stuff’ that make me seem wise and truly develop and live wisdom!
The word that I received is “present”. To all the gifts and Presence in my life. To slow down and be in the moment- that is where I encounter God.
My word for 2013 is “TRUST”….which evolved from a phrase given in the “Birthing the Sacred” Advent retreat..”the still heart that refuses nothing”. I’m excited about living into the year with this word guiding my way, and am so grateful to you, Christine for the richness your wonderful online programs at Abbey of the Arts have brought into my life in 2012.
New Years blessings to all, Lisa
Hi,
My word for the year is “Rejoice” and it feels wonderful!
Enough
Christmas Eve morning, as I was awakening from a dream in which I was feeling harassed and overwhelmed with “stuff” to do and “stuff” to organize/take care of, I clearly hear the word “enough”. I continue to smile at this invitation from the Dreamer to explore just what IS enough in my life…
The two words that I keep coming back to are “uncover”, and “embody”. I will keep listening this week to hopefully hear what fits best. Thank you for the exercises in the online class.
My word for 2013 is “preparing.” Thank you for this opportunity to pause and ponder about my life in God.