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 “flexibility.” I am 44 and now is the time to learn yoga! It also applies to being willing to find new ways to approach my vocation/work life!
Thanks for this, Christine! I’ve had a confusing but fruitful time pondering my word for 2013. And quite out of the blue it came to me–“embrace”!
I’ve spent this year working on yielding and trusting, as well as trying for a greater degree of spontaneity in my life. And now I feel propelled forward into active embrace of whatever is given, not avoiding, not denying, not trying to control but looking it right in the eyes, throwing my arms around it, and saying to it, “Yes, welcome, I embrace you as an integral part of my life”–even if it’s something that I subsequently need to put firmly in its place.
Again———thank you for this gift.
My word is forward. Not sure why yet!
Clarity. Light to see by in the Wintery Darkness. For real “Seeing”;
Clarity!
My word is “trust.”
I want to trust that God does love me;
to trust that God forgives me;
to trust that God is listening to me;
to trust my self;
to trust that I can live without fear or shame;
to trust that I can go deeper with God;
to trust that I will honor myself and my hopes, dreams, desires, and plans;
to trust in God’s goodness and generosity;
to trust that God is on my side.
Thanks for the retreat Christine–it was very helpful for me to enter into this discernment. Blessings, friend!
The word tht comes to me is mindfulness, seeing what is around me as it is, appreciating the beauty and challenge of each moment as I am in the moment, cherishing every moment as a gift.
I have consistently heard the word ‘listen’ come up a lot. I am only on day five of the word course. I am wrestling, pondering, and struggling with it. I am listening….
RENEW. I plan to renew my mind, heart and soul. It’s so exciting to begin a new year! I always awaken (nearly always) to greet the day. Just looking at the sunrise from my bedroom window inspires me to see what’s possible. So, renew: who I am, what I’m here for, where I’m going . . .
My word for 2013 is “trust”. I am a person who likes to always be in control of every situation I find myself in. That is not possible, of course. There is alot of uncertainty in almost every area of my life right now. God is asking me to increase my ability to let go and believe.
My word for 2013 is “Go Deeper.” Although it was a guideline in a retreat I went on in August, I have not yet begun to enter into it and that is my goal and intention for this year.