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Give Me a Word 2013: Fourth annual Abbey giveaway

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:

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!

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844 Responses

  1. My word is HUNGER. In all the layers of meaning that may evoke. Blessings and Shalom to you, Sharon

  2. The word given to me is Surrender. I would not have chosen this word, but the word rings true.

  3. My phrase for 2013 is: manna for the road. I’m excited to receive, be nurtured, by surprise, in the ordinary…in the extraordinary…in 2013…

  4. MOSIAC

    many small
    colorful pieces
    carefully chosen
    brought together
    for one complete creation.

    Looking forward to fitting all the pieces together in harmony this year!

  5. “Focus” – in this I am called to freedom, letting go, decluttering, to attend to what is needed

  6. My word for 2013 is FAITH. I feel that I am at a junction in my life where I must choose a new path. The path that I have been traveling feels the safest but has not been serving me or my family well. I am frightened to imagine a new life and traveling a different path and scared of the uncertainty it will bring. However, I feel that if I focus on FAITH that I will not be journeying this new path alone – all will be well. Jesus will be with me and my family every step of the way.

  7. My word is OPENNESS: As I have crossed a Threshold in November of Deep Surrender the word Openness invites me to be open to all that God wants to do in me and through me this year.