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
Creative is my word for 2013. Many of my things I want to try and do are not new to my list. I want to be willing to try new and creative ways to live, love and laugh.
Abide ~ dwell, remain, accept, stay. It seems like a lovely old-fashioned word…abide with me, goes the evening hymn. A part of me is savouring this word, another part resisting, as I wrestle with acceptance in some areas of my life. For now, I ‘abide’ with this word as I walk the river paths.
My word for this year is rest. I struggled with the acceptance of this word since my life is so active; however when I stopped to remember my word last year was music and when I think of a REST (my word for this year ) in music, I realize it is a time to take a breath. This meaning of rest totally resonates with me as a monk in the world.
My word for this year is mystery. Allowing what is unknown and unrevealed come forth…new gods, new altars, a space to contain all that is. All is mystery…life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived. No longer wishing to fix myself, but to accepy myself with my quirks, imperfections, and gifts.
My word is “LIGHT”. A friend posted a poster with the words “Travel LIGHT, live LIGHT, spread the LIGHT, be the LIGHT”. My husband and I have just retired, and I feel the need to LIGHTEN up, LIGHT up, live in the LIGHT, reflect the LIGHT…so many applications of one word to explore!
Wondrous
Taking time to be more aware, more appreciative that all is wondrous.
My word is ‘audacity’.
My word for the year is “senex” which is the masculine equivalent of “crone” — I want to cherish my aging process this year … the great gift of wise aging is becoming more childlike, I suspect. Something which Nicodemus in the gospel finds hard to swallow.
The word for 2013 is “poetry.”
I have been spending time searching for the right word. None of the words I came up with really grabbed me.
Today the word ‘soften’ came to me. Hmmm… yes. I will now contemplate what this word can mean in my unfolding as the new year progresses.