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
VISION
On a recent retreat we reflected on the unnamed women of scripture; the woman with the hemoragge, Peter’s mother-in-law, etc. The unifying elements these women possessed were: courage, integrity, a sense of human and lastly, vision. This word has taken root in me as the needed element for myself to move forth actively in desire for authentically expressed, spirit infused living!
Vulnerable is the word I keep slamming into and can no longer avoid. I AM vulnerable, whether I like it or not, whether I choose to be or not. What would it look like if I were to become voluntarily vulnerable?
Despite myearlier doubts, my word has been insistent , cropping up all over the place. The word is COLOR. The final emphasis came just moments ago as I read the John O’Donohue excerpt on this website……
When your eyes freeze behind the grey window
And the ghost of loss gets into you,
May a flock of colors, indigo, red, green
And azure blue, Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
May the significance for me of COLOR unfold throughout the year. One evocative thought is that in Christ, darkness and light meet and become color.
My word is “speak your wisdom”. I have been on an incredible journey of healing for the past 33 years, beginning with a near death/out of body experience followed by a 12 step recovery program and some non-traditional therapies such as Movement Therapy, Jungian Dream Work and expression through Art. These therapies were available when I attended Seattle University in 1985-86. Today, I continue on the path the Lord has opened for me. Also, much of my healing continues in my connection to nature. I am so grateful!
I know the word for me this year is compassion. It is becoming an invitation from God to enter into the deepest parts of God in Christ growing into that love and woundedness to share with my world.
My word is LEAP INTO THE FIRE. Some other things were shimmering and considering … read about a stellar Latin teacher in Seattle whom students called Nora Incitata… hem incitata… was writing some work goals with a friend and tried to write start a private practice of counseling and it came out PIRATE practice… hem…
the word that found me is Trust. I have difficulty trusting when I don’t know what is coming next. This will be an exciting year to learn how to completely trust that God knows what He is doing in my life.
My word is “release.” While making my way through this online retreat, I had a very difficult day in a challenging place of work. Waking in the middle of the night, I was filled with two words: Let Go!!! The following day as I stood at the window wondering how to compress “let go” into one word, “release” simply tapped me on the shoulder. It has already danced its way across pages in my journal and promises to be a sturdy companion with a light touch in coming months. Thank you and Happy Epiphany. Martha Brunell
The word that chose me this year is AMAZED. Every rhythm of life contains breath amazed; this ever dawning glorious light!
I have been practicing Centering Prayer for a long time. My word for years was Amen…so be it. Then during a lengthy and recent upheaval, surrender chose me. My SD pointed out that perhaps I was preparing/needing to let go of something. She was right. I spent Advent on that journey and came to see with clarity where the Lord was leading and the bunch I had to let go of (still in process:). However, the decision was made, I am at peace with it, doing the next right thing, praying away the emotions that come with letting go and focusing on the “knowing” where I am being led. So….this morning a new phrase was born in me. ‘All is well’….from Julian of Norwich.
That is a word born from ‘knowing’, not from knowing. As I say/write it, I can feel it settling in my bones.
Once again thank you Christine for your holy work. I wonder what the desert mothers/ fathers would say about spiritual direction on an IPad:)