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 ‘reach’ with overtones of stretch and possibility, of taking up the space that is truly me.
My words are Creativity and Imagination.
My words for 2012 were ‘Carving out Space’ and this year I believe these new words will be the ones that inhabit the space. As a hospice chaplain, I work within the gap, or bardo, between life and death; and I am often struck by how this gap seems to offer an opportunity for growth and blossoming.
For myself I hope the space opening up before me this year will be rich with images and creativity of all kinds as the fruit of imagination.
Thank you so much for the rich resources of this site.
My 2013 word chose me several days ago, and it is Surrender.
Sinking
Underneath
Resistance and repetitive patterns
Ripening and
Entering
Nothingness and
Dancing into
Eternal
Release
Surrendering the known and opening to the unknown.
Blessings,
Marcella
Thank you for sharing your word. Mine is the same-Surrender. I was surprised by the Spirit. May God help both of us to live into this word. Love, Pat
My word is HEART, come to me as I prayed on the Christmas story in Luke: “And Mary treasured these words and pondered them in her heart.” My hope is that I can move ever more into the practice of listening with the heart, rather than just the mind, and responding from the heart to God and to others.
Thanks, Christine, for the idea and the online retreat. Lovely way to pay attention to the threshold of the year.
My word is “conversion.” It is a reminder that it is a process, not a one time thing.
My word for 2013 is HOME. I am feeling a pull to spend time creating a welcoming HOME within me for God. I also am feeling the pull to create a more welcoming and comfortable HOME for my family. I feel pulled toward HOME as well because that is where my art supplies and studio are. I haven’t been allowing myself enough time and space to nurture my inner artist. I am so excited that I discovered your website. It is absolutely perfect for what my soul is being drawn toward! Thank you!!
After reading the article in today’s newsletter, it is settled – my word for 2013 is “mystery”.
“Harmony” is my word. “Flowing” and “Clarity” were words that came up while I was
walking and contemplating over the past 12 days, but just yesterday while reading about
the beauty of the Cosmos; the beauty of our world and the beauty in everyday life “harmony” jumped out and claimed me. This is the word that I want and desire to explore and be with this coming year.
My 2013 word is EASE.
As a noun – appreciate my life of ease and comfort, and also, don’t make things harder than they are. Approach myself, family, and circumstances with a sense of ease and less aggressive management.
As a verb – ease myself into unfamiliar situations.
My word is tenderness.