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 words are Joy and Journey or Joyful Journey. My husband passed away in May of 2012 after 5 years of colon cancer. As I moved into 2013, the words Joy and Journey have been coming to me. To find Joy in my Journey, or to be aware of the joy of the journey as I move through this coming year with all its surprises that await me.
My word is “Rejoice!” After it showed up in my mind & heart, I asked for confirmation. Immediately my eyes were drawn to the beautiful Nativity card on my desk from my faith community.
The proclamation inside the card was “Rejoice! Unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” My word speaks to the depths of my soul, and has already been a gift & blessing in the joys and challenges of daily life.
My word for 2013 is gracious – A challenge to be gracious in word, thought and action, especially when others may seemingly be ingracious (though they may not meann it) and so my challenge is not to respond in like manner!
My word is rest. . . .coming on the tails of my word from last year music. . .a rest is a pause/breath between the notes. . ..time to pause and breathe.
The word that came to me is “renaissance “. I feel as if I have been in a dark age and now all of the things that I have gathered and learned and worked for are coming together into some sort of meaningful direction and focus. Facades are falling away and I am rediscovering my true self.
“sacramentality”
Each relationship, responsibilities, all of life…requires time, care, attention. It is living life with God that makes it true, beautiful and good!
My word is DESIRE! May I desire all that God desires for me, it is only then, that I can be all He created me to be.
My word for 2013 is: ADORE.
It’s a word that helps me to slow down and really be present to the events and people in my life.
I am thinking of ‘Divinity’ or “Namaste” because I want to celebrate and honour the sacred in everyone and everything. This represents a huge shift away from the confusion of being innundated with lots of practical, factual atheistic information. However I have not yet finished the Retreat so I am keeping an open mind.
My word for this year is “trust”. There is a lot going on in my life at this time and amidst it all I will begin studies for a Masters. I know this is a call from God, but I want to trust God to be with me in the journey as I am a bit nervous. I minister full time, as well as sharing in the care of my mother. I have trusted in God in the past and to trust God in this now moment is critical to my sanity.