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 for 2013 is PASSION. It is my year to follow my passions in love, creative arts, writing and grandparenting.
My word is Surrender. It came to me on a contemplative walk with my mother in the falling snow a couple of days after Christmas. I was searching for a word in the wild and named words as I walked, such as Spacious, Radience, Deep, Stirring. But they were words I thought of as I walked, words I wanted. Then I turned a corner, and ever so quietly, I heard “Surrender”; then even quieter after that I heard “Mercy”. It took me awhile to discern, but it was Surrender that chose me. I think Mercy chose to accompany my word with me. Perhaps it is only through Mercy that Surrender is possible.
My word is “Patience”. Things take time here to manifest in Hawai’i, so I am learning to let go of expectations and know that when it is time, my positive thoughts will take fruit.
The word phrase that has chosen me is “life-giving tension.” I thought and believed for so long that if my life was tension-free all was well with my soul. A shift is taking place and I’m being invited to live the tension in a centered way. I sense a realigning happening in my whole being – hallelujah!
It’s words, not just a word! But at this time in my journey these words are healing me, supporting me, nourishing me and filling me with peace and gratitude:
Anneclaire, you are my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased.
I may have put my word for 2013 in a different location…so I speak it out once again. My word for 2013 is Rooted. Having moved more than 23 times my soul longs to be rooted to place and in Spirit. I am expectant for all the new ways that I will encounter nature, community and God in this new beginning.
Thank you for this blog and all that goes into it. It truly is a gift to my soul.
May you have many Breakthroughs in 2013!
The word that came this year is Stillness. I speaks to me of refuge, solitude, reflection, calm and giving time to going within.
My word started calling to me in the second half of 2012. As the new year rolled in I heard it again, more insistent this time. POSSIBILITY, as in looking at the possibility that life contains more than we can see or hear, more than science has acknowledged, more than I have believed.
The word that has lept out at me is MOVE. I’ve been hiding comfortably behind a respectable occupation for too long and holiday visits with old friends as well as family have urged me to reconsider many things.
My word for this year is “shifting”. I am shifting from mothering & homeschooling as my primary time & energy pattern to an openness to
new possibilities as my children are growing up.