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 is GENTLE. I need to bring this word into my actions, my words, my thoughts. Gentle in my conversations, gentle in my actions, gentle with myself, gentle in my work, when I play, gentle when driving even! I am so very happy this word chose me because it gives me the chance to allow love to enter into my life, particularly when the word ‘love’ seems too big for me to attempt.
My word is not what I expected. It is HARVEST. Evidently what has been planted and nurtured over many years of growth and change is about to yield a crop. This surprising word deserved research and I see it’s a season, a product, and an action. I am grateful for all that has been and all that is to come. Blessings!
Mellow is the word that rose within me near the end of December as my word for the year. One always arrives unbidden and I know to honor it. This is a beautiful word for me, lovely on the tongue yet challenging to my busy, productive life. May the Mellow be with you!
The word that has come to me is WONDER. Both in the sense of the verb of asking questions, wondering where life will lead me this year and also to cultivate a sense of wonder. I want to be more present to appreciate the wonder in small moments each day and to re-kindle my curiosity about creation,people, life and God!
Fruition
I’m feeling the cumulative effects of decades of meditation, retreats and opening to life are finally bringing me to fruition.
EXPLORE. To take off my fear like clothing, take a long breath and dive deep. There are treasures in that cool darkness we call mystery – riches stored in secret places. Deep has called, the breakers are waiting to take me down, I just need to dive in and EXPLORE.
Hi Christine—my word for 2013 is RE-BIRTH! My Mom died in the fall and I loved her so much!! I am learning TO BE in a different way and I am being very quiet, hermit-like in order to learn how to communicate in a new, different and creative way. My roll has now changed and my prayer is to transform in a NEW way
Nancy ox
My word is ACCEPTANCE. It is the word that found me and stayed with me. It requires me to surrender to what is and to accept what is. It is a time for me to become smaller so that I can be eyeball to eyeball with smaller things, subtle feelings, often unseen but important beings, and savor them. With Acceptance I can move forward.
My word is ALIVE. Too often this last year I felt dead, almost like a corpse going through the motions of a life. No way to live! I struggled in my choice of words between TRUST and ALIVE, finally coming to see the tremendous TRUST necessary to be truly ALIVE. It feels safer and oh so much sadder to retreat into something less than real life. GOD calls us to Live fully ALIVE. I will answer that call as fully as I am able in 2013.
ALIVE
Certainty, the nub of assurance in the maelstrom.