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 for 2013 is ENOUGH. I am enough. I have enough. Whenever I feel the darkness of scarcity and lack creep in, I remind myself, there is always enough.
The word that keeps coming through is “trust” and “timing”. When to hang on and when to let go. When to leap, when to wait. It is a struggle and hope a crisis doesn’t need to occur to push me forward.
My word for 2013 is TRUST. I had health and relationship challenges in 2012. So I considered the word TRANSCEND, thinking that this year I will listen to the call of the divine indwelling and live from my highest self regardless of my worldly entanglements. But that word for me conveys a certain self-determinism and carries an energy of conquering or striving.
I considered SURRENDER instead — as in surrendering to God’s will for me without investing myself in a search for cause or meaning. But that word for me carries an energy of passivity or even defeat.
So in 2013, I will TRUST God to provide the help and nourishment I need. I will TRUST God to open me to discover how He is at work in my life — even the parts of my life I wouldn’t think to ask for.
My word is ‘courage’ as I feel the time is almost ripe to step out into the unknown and find myself again. As I step out in faith, I believe I will feel ‘the everlasting arms’ underneath me, bearing me up. A wondrous path and adventure awaits!
All of a sudden it hit me. It found me! My life is a holy LABYRINTH. To move toward the center I must trust God – I have no overview over the many twists and turns of the way, but I know it will take me to the center, to God, where I will basque in God’s love and grace, renew myself, re-energize myself to move back towards the outside to fulfill whatever God’s mission for me in God’s kingdom might be. Only trust in God along the labyrinth’s way will guide me to and from the center.
I love this word and the intimacy of the journey you are describing. I pray that you have an a MAZE ing year.
I am uncertain if I posted my word already. I have been enJOYing some unwellness and fuzzy thinkering this past week and have been extraordinarily blessed by my word, Enough, for 2013.
I AM Enough. I HAVE Enough. I DO Enough. It IS Enough.
So much of Life is missed in seeking MORE or regretting LESS than perfection. I am deeply content with Enough.
My word is still PRESENT to be present to all that is Sacred. To slow down enough to experience the holy in each moment. Because the Holy Presence exists in the present, not the future or past-NOW. 2013 is the year I am more present (with God’s grace!).
Hi I had previously written that my word was Intregity but now I have discovered that my word is actually Enthusiasm. That is what I bring into the new year-enthusiasm.
My word is BELIEVE.
In the past I would pray but still have anxiety about what would happen.
This year, through doing my own Lectio meditation with my journal daily, the word believe started leaping out at me. Huh!
Believe is the next step of accepting real faith and living it.
My word is DETACHMENT.
I have been surprised by the presence of many lizards recently, and have become aware of how they detach their tails when threatened. This has led me to ponder on how many times I drag old, negative ‘stuff’ with me, instead of detaching and allowing new growth to happen.