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
“Open” is it. Open to life, open my eyes, open my ears, open my heart, open to the god within.
On December 29, 2012, I went to the beach to gain clarity on my word-of-the-year. After listening to the waves and journaling…my word-of-the-year is RELEASE. I journaled on the following questions; What do I need to release to be spiritually nurtured? What do I need to release to be physically nurtured? What do I need to release to be emotionally nurtured? What do I need to release to be mentally nurtured? The insights were illuminating and I felt a jolt of vulnerability.
My word for 2013 PURGE…”to become clean, clear”.
To lay aside the attitudes and literal, physical things that slow me down like an anchor dragging. Things that keep me from my painting, gardening, writing. I think of the unfinished projects of my Mom who died almost 20 years ago…my husband’s aunt, my ex-husbands grandmother! Time to purge them from my closets and drawers along with unneeded clothes, papers, etc., so they won’t continue to whisper, “You have to finish me before you can go out and play.”
Thank you Jane. Your whispers have played over and over again in my head. Yes, for me purging things is good, purging thoughts is ever more beneficial. Your words have helped clarify the answer to a question I have been praying about. Now is the time time to become clean and clear and make the right choice for me. Time to purge!
….embellish….not just to live my life…but to embellish it every day with smiles and thoughts….to notice the little gifts nature strews in our path….to share goodness with those that connect no matter how briefly with me….to whisper thanks for the comfort and security in our lives….embellish!
As I reflected in the first few days of practice, I truly thought my word for 2013 was simply Thresholds; I am undergoing an incredible amount of changes in my life and all of them are in preparation for the next chapter. I’ve planned and analyzed and thought and mused; there are vision boards and action plans. However, then, like a bolt of lightening, I realized the word is Serendipidity. Without looking for and allowing for the Divine to enter in when I least expect it this year, I may miss the big lessons, small graces, and beauty in the year. Serendipidity on my lips and in my heart this year!
Power. Power made perfect in weakness. Power, as Simone Weil says, is used always for good or for evil. Power, which in Gk. is dynamis, from which we get our word dynamic or dynamite.
Union
It is a phrase that has found me this year. I have been in a silent retreat for Nov and Dec in the Sonoran Desert…. the phrase that has come to me is “Surrender into the joy and freedom of my true nature”….. The part that is interesting to me is you would think that it is easy to surrender into joy….but I can see that this will be the shape of my journey as I continue the sabbatical that I am on. I am at the ocean now for three months….exploring all the nuances of this phrase. It would seem the word ‘surrender’ would suffice….but it doesn’t. The important part for me is that to which I am surrendering…. the joy and freedom of my true nature.
Gestation
“True” is my word for 2013. This is the year to be true to myself and my spirit.