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
Expanse
My word is MINDFULNESS.
M inding mind, minding action, moving with external alertness brings
I nternal alertness
N oting every in and out breath
D evelops the muscles of concentration and awareness
F ull concentration and right mindfulness brings
U nderstanding, insight or Holy Spirit
L etting go of the past, letting go of the future, full conservation of energy
N oting the troubled thoughts and emotions that linger and
E mbracing
S miling to them, may eventually bring
S erenity as thoughts slow down, a transformative path to happiness is revealed
A few words popped into my head while walking on a cold yet bright winter’s afternoon: “patience,” “quiet,” “kindness.” They all sounded good, but somehow they sounded not quite right, as if they were words for years past. Then about three minutes away from my home the word “curiosity” popped into my head, and that word made me smile. The smile let me know that was the word for this time, and I see that even more than kindness, I need to approach those sides of me I don’t want to see with curiosity. “What is this?”
STOP: Listen
FREEDOM. For so many years, I’ve felt I was in a perceputal box. I knew there was so much more out there than I could “see.” I knew that my own paradigms we penning me in. But I couldn’t figure out how to see beyond my neurological, cultural and constitutional blindnesses. Then Temple Grandin, bless her autistic heart, opened up another world to me. For me, freedom from my old box is the breath of life. Thank you Temple for your perseverance, discipline and kindness to the rest of us. Thank you for sharing your world and enlarging all of ours. Thank you for breaking me out of my box.
Shine is the word that leaped out at me during a small group two days ago. I have a sense it is going to be an interesting word to live in to this year. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
My word is ENOUGH. I will dwell with this word throughout the year….letting is show me the way to a transforming way of being with myself and being in the world. I pray to release what is no longer needed….making space for the Holy.
Ellen, I had to smile when i read your word – enough.
Four years ago, I used it in its Italian form, basta! Enough, Stop!
With it, I dealt with all the weeds in my life and soul, well, most of them, anyway.
I hope you harvest as much spiritual freedom with your word as basta afforded me.
Jo
My word for 2013 is DELIGHT.
This is an inviation each day to delight in God’s goodness, in discovering all the gifts, joy and abundance waiting there.
My word or words is “holy listening”, taking more time to sit and ponder with the Holy Mystery in nature and beyond………….more and more lately I have noticed the synchronicity of specific words or phrases, this is going to be a year of excitement and expectation and a letting go so that I can become who I was always meant to be.
The word that has chosen me is BLOOM. For the past year I have tended the garden and used the herbs to heal and comfort others. This year is time for me to bloom, to tend my creative juices and make a salve for my soul.