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Give Me a Word 2013: Fourth annual Abbey giveaway

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:

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!

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844 Responses

  1. A word that “shimmered” for me in the last weeks is INNOCENCE. What does it feel like to be both innocent and wise? Is innocence only a characteristic of the young? Once we have lived so many years and accumulated so much knowledge, and a bit of cynicism too, how do we regain our innocence? How can I allow myself to reclaim my innocence?

  2. My word for 2013 is RUMINATE

    I tend to rush through things, especially when it comes to reading, either thinking that it is something I am familiar with, or presuming to understand what the author is saying. It is my intention to take the time to ruminate, think through, spend time with… whatever it is that I am doing – reading, sewing, housework, planning…etc..

    1. I have been broken open this past year through my divorce and my opening myself to love again.

  3. Engage — to move beyond the space of personal comfort and detachment, to move beyond myself and into commmunity with my fellow human beings.

  4. My word found me this morning as I sat watching the sun bounce thru the window blind and onto the wall. Sun has been infrequent around here lately so I rejoice when I see it. My words: Light and Lighten up….many layers of meaning as well as practical application to experience this coming year!