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 LIGHT. To be a light, to dwell in the light, to lighten up! I look forward to dwelling with this word as it reveals itself to me.
My word for 2013 is listen. I feel called to live out a more disciplined contemplative lifestyle spending more time listening to God and listening more attentively in conversations. Thus less speaking, less questions, more listening and contemplating.
Speak. I’m good with words but they never come easily.
My word for this year is “viriditas”. I discovered it while inhaling the book “God’s Hotel”, which recently Christine mentioned she was reading. The word is from Hildegard which means greeness: the power of human beings to grow, to give birth and to heal.
My word is QUIET. Quiet is not just the surrounding atmosphere but quiet of the soul. In our world today it is easy to get caught up in the activities surrounding us but momentary “soul quiet” helps one to stay focused and centered. That kind of quiet is good for the body and the soul. It is a ready attitude!
nuturing grandmothers and grandmothering surround me St Anne be with me as I nuture new life and little ones young parents
remembering Mary and Joseph as young parents once upon a time
“I AM” ALL-WAYS
I have chosen the word “present” with a focus on three key meanings (at least that have emerged so far): present as in practicing being fully present; present as in gift–to serve my gifts and to be grateful for them; and present as in taking the risks involved in sharing my writing with others.
Thank you, Christine, for your inspiring reflections on this practice.
PATHWAYS is my word for 2013.
It reminds be to journey with purpose and resolve…despite the problems and chaos that swirl around us. The destination is not important but the journey is EVERYTHING! “Solvitur Amulando” – (a message by the labyrinth at Glastonbury Abbey) “It is solved by walking.”
This is the first time I have done this and the word which chose me is FREEDOM. I suffer from alot of fears in life, phobias and OCD and want to break free from my prison. I keep hearing Queen’s song “I want to break free” ever since the word chose me so I guess it must be the one. BJ