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 Becoming. It came to me during a New Year’s Day mini-retreat with my spiritual mentor and friend, Yvonne Lucia. As part of the retreat, we each made our word into a work of art. I will place mine on my desk for the year.
My word is sufficient. I need to accept that what I can do is sufficient, what I have is sufficient and that God’s love is sufficient for all.
My word is Shine. I was thinking in terms of light saturation, and allowing the light of God to penetrate all of the nooks and crannies of my heart and soul. And the scripture I have been drawn to over and over again during advent is John 1:5 (ESV) “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” I too want to shine with the light of God this year.
I am new to this community of spirit-minded folks; still, amidst the contemplation of a word for 2013 I found last year’s word to be Focus. This year that could continue but I am moved to embrace ENGAGE, to step out of my contemplative, creative retreat in the woods and pledge, commit, expose myself to risk, attract and entangle the world and embark on my own business.
Enliven
Nuanced
Glory
Attend with
Grace and be
Energized
My Word for 2013 is Nurture. I had forgotten all about my 2012 Word — which was Dare — until the email came about this year’s Word process . I was then in the midst of intense year-end review and realized that I had in fact “dared” quite a bit in 2012! I was feeling a bit confused and overwhelmed by the results of all that daring, wondering where to next. “Nurture” arose for me along with an image of a flower garden. I sat with it for several days until it settled. I like “nurture” because it encompasses my own self, other people, and all my various projects, connotes intuition, and reminds me that I don’t have to control everything, just do my part.
The word that has arisen for me is “Glory”.
To do with the awe and dazzle of wonder
forever shining under,
beyond,
and through
all that is.
The word that seems to have ‘chosen’ me is ‘incarnate’ – both as an adjective and as a verb. I want to ponder more of the holy wonder of God incarnate on this planet, and all that means; I want to be aware of God incarnating himself in ordinary life here and now; and I want to explore what it is that he wants to bring to birth in me. I seem to also have a symbol which came to me in a dream – turquoise stones – my birthstone – which it seems signify deep stillness and calm and healing. I want to find and use some as prayer beads or to wear as a reminder of finding the incarnate God in that place of deep wonder and stillness within. The Artists’ Course, plus Word 2013 and ‘Birthing the Holy’ have been so rich for me, I need to find a simple way to distil and remember the essence of it all, and that, I think, is what the turquoise stones will mean.
my word is belonging
Dependency. At times, I have a tendency to do things myself, without taking time out to think matters through. I know that God wants all that I am, and all that I have, so I am depending on God this year to settle my heart, and sow me direction, both personally, and business wise.
~Wholeheartedness~ My prayer is to use all of me. How can I be wholehearted as I write, eat,work, chop wood, carry water, plan, vision, serve and live this precious mystery called Life. Thanks Christine!