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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. For the past couple of weeks I sat quietly and no word had come. Then today on Epiphany I was reminded of a vision I had a few years ago. The word that came from that was “WELLSPRING,” “an original or bountiful source of something.” I’m looking forward to exploring this word!

  2. The word that has chosen me for 2013 is “steps” – it seems to recurring in many forms such as some artwork I am working on and in my daily life – So why “steps”? That is something I hope will be revealed.

  3. My word is OMPHALOS. Womb of the world to the Greeks. Navel, center, source of life which helps me to stay grounded in this new earth orbit.

  4. My word is PEACE. It comes from a song we often sing at my church: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” I suddenly actually heard it speak to me when we were lighting the candle of Peace during Advent. I realized that it really meant me–I have to bring peace!

  5. These three words came mid-2012 and have sustained me well..

    “Beloved, transforming Presence”

  6. My word/s are “Return to Holiness”. Returning to the awe, mystery, and presence in the noble virtue of exceptional faith.

  7. My word for 2013 is Open Door, as in, “See, I have set before you an open door.” I’m aware that this will require initiative–Christ has opened it, but I have to walk through it–and trust in his goodness: the spaces on the other side are full of promise.

  8. my word is circle. of life, Mandalas, labyrinth, etc. I have been doing so much circle research that my head I’d spinning! can’t wait to see where God takes this.