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
delight is the word which inspires me this year. It enlightens the dark, and brightens the light….God’s delight in me…my delight in all that is good….in others…in me. The enterprise of seeking that delight is one which takes huge energy…and is full of surprises, and one which leads to fuller life.
“Harmony” is my word for 2013…..after many walks and contemplations about the words that have spoken to me over the past 12 days this is the word that has claimed me. While I walked with other words….it was when I was reading an article about the beauty of the cosmos, the beauty in our world and beauty in my life that the word and idea of “harmony” peeked in and I got my attention. I want and need to explore and be with this word that is calling me for 2013.
Thanks to Christine and to all who have shared what seem to me – Sacred Words. My heart filled with compassion for you, Theodosia – may your sanctuary be a safe and gentle place in which to rest from harsh changes in your life – and hopefully to be replaced with new beautiful ways of being in the world.
equanimity
Started out with Beauty but two more words suddenly appeared – kindness and gentle or gentleness. Gentleness beckoned strongly and seemed to include the first two words. So I will rest in gentleness – with myself, with others, with the earth, with the world, to still my troubled heart at times, and to rest gently in all the blessings received daily.
Attentiveness – the journey of detecting the movement of the Divine in my everyday life.
TALLOW — a word that still puzzles me but has definately “found” me and won’t let go. Something to do with light and the rendering of excesses to come to know its bounty.
At Mass on Christmas, Monsignor Harris’ homily was on “Surprise”. His words really touched my heart so I’ve chosen “Surprise” as my word. Given all the tragedy we experience/read about I’m committing myself to finding Surprises given to me daily by God. I think, however, that I will have to work at looking for them at first because I’m so accustomed to passing things right by. I am also praying that those I dearly love find their own wonderful surprises during this NEW year. As e.e.cummins says, “I thank you God for most this amazing day…….”
My word for 2013 is OPEN.
To be open to life.
Integration.
The word that found me for 2013, my 19th year of having a “word for the year” in lieu of a New Year’s resolution. Integration points to “making the road by walking”, in the way a regular practice moves from something I do, to who I am. A reminder that the moment by moment choices make the path, and the path itself becomes formative of where I go.