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
“finish” is my word for the new year. Its definition to me is “to accomplish that which I have been called to do with triumph and victory. Amen
My word for the New Year is “turning”.
I’m entering a new stage of life and I’m turning
In my journey. Creating new spaces to grow.
Doing things I’ve had on hold.
Namaste
Embrace.
Embrace Christ’s love, embrace circumstances…good or bad.
My son started this ‘image’ when I had to walk back in the rain after shopping, seeking sympathy. He said: ’embrace it, it was a special moment’.
This was my word last year and it served me well!
My word for 2013 is ‘leap’. As in ‘Leap and the net will appear’. Happy new year!
so appreciate this encouragement – have shared on fb and about to post to blogs.. my word for 2013? PEACE … anticipating the watering of the seed sown
Understanding increased having spent time reflecting on this word of ‘Peace’ ~
Isaiah 30:15
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 32:17
And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.
Isaiah 30:15
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
15 For this is what Adonai Elohim,
the Holy One of Isra’el, says:
“Returning and resting is what will save you;
calmness and confidence will make you strong..”
Is 32.17
The effect of righteousness will be peace;
the result of righteousness, quiet trust forever.
powerful stuff! grateful for this initial watering of the seed sown…
Well, I may be doing this wrong, because instead of just one word, I keep getting seven! Great Tenderness, Deep Joy & Peace of Christ. The great tenderness words came from a very interesting & moving dream I had recently; it seemed like Christ was reaching out to me – reminding me of how much He cares. The other words may just be what I am “wanting”, rather than what is being “offered”. Things have been very difficult here with dad’s cancer treatments on-going. Deep Joy & Peace seem far removed. But Great Tenderness seems closer and easier to access (when I’m not numbing out my feelings because I’m so scared & overwhelmed). So, I think I’ll stick with the words from the dream. Great Tenderness it is. Thanks, Christine, for offering this space to learn & share….
My word for 2013 is Balance. I have come to understand through my recent life circumstances that the only way to achieve a harmonious life is through balancing, uniting and combining seemingly opposite ideas to find new truths.
My word for 2012 was BE–and it has become part of my DNA.
I am still wrestling with the word for 2113. So the free mini retreat is
perfect. This will be my 3rd year to chose a word and I think it will become
a lifetime habit. Thanks, Christine.
Be–as in Be yourself, Be present, Be still, Be aware. When pondering a visual image, a bee came into my mind and with it the reminder that its flight defies aerodynamic theory. In researching this, “nonlinear, unconventional flight” whispered to me, instilling the realization that this has been, and still is, my path through life. When I considered writing a poem, this acrostic came to me:
Beginnings are endings
Endings are beginnings.