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 OPEN.
I am opening like a flower and my heart, mind and soul need to be OPEN to God’s presence. I need to be OPEN, willing and ready to be and to do what is put before me. I need to be OPEN most of all to the Divine Love and let it flow in AND out of me. I need to be OPEN to grow and create, to create and share the Divine Love, the God within me.
Open Hands, Open Heart. Some years ago, this was the theme song to which my soul danced. Now, as I take on anew role, with new responsibilities, I hear again the old invitation to welcome into my world, all that life brings me, trusting that all of it – happy, sad, affirming and fulfilling, challenging and stress-filled, painful and even devastating – bears within it the seeds of new life and growth.
My word is “learn”. I am excited for the unfolding of what this will mean.
The word that came to me is “emptying”. It’s very different from last year’s word (captaincy). In fact, it’s not a word that makes me feel comfortable, but I suspect that is the point … Thanks for this annual word invitation, Christine.
Miracle is the word that has chosen me. I choose to see the miracles in and of life everyday.
I seem to have been walking in circles resisting the word it seems I need to accept.. it is SURRENDER… ouch!! If I am able to ‘pick it up gently’ I am sure it will be a wonderful companion and guide during the whole of 2013.
My word this year is space. It came to me over Advent while participating in the Advent retreat.I was waiting , praying and watching for what might be coming to birth in me and not seeing anything clearly until I realised that in fact what has been and is being birthed is simply that, “space.” This birthing is ongoing. My part is to stay open to being an expression of Love in what ever form is given to me in the moment. A daily practice of allowing and surrendering to Mystery.
For 2013, I want to SPEAK LOVE because I have been unable to for so very long. I have lived an emotionally shut life for over 50 years. Through God’s grace, a miracle has occurred and all I want to do is reflect His unconditional love. Love, love, love.
It was so fun to see a “word” for the year in the list! I was visiting my daughter recently, and we passed a license plate that read “SimplyB”. I KNEW in that moment THAT was my word for the year, days before I even saw this posting. However, within the week, it expanded to: “SimplyB Joyfull” Remembering to hear that phrase in my mind daily has already lightened my outlook and my spirit!
After much soul-searching, a chat with my spiritual director allowed a word to appear: BALANCE. Like the tightropewalker (I prefer the French word funambule), little adjustments to the way one walks keeps you on track. No extremes, just a few wee changes to my lifestyle and the longed-for balance will ensue. I long for the peace that a balance of the activities and forces that tug at me brings me. It is a quintessential Benedictine virtue. My last year’s word(s) were second naivete and it has brought gifts of simplicity and joy that I hardly expected. You have to be like a child to play with balance.