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
Simplicity
Both inward and outward simplicity
My word is:
El-Shaddai – (God, the Almighty One)
and who knows where this study will lead me.
Best wishes to all
Each year a words chooses me, and I live into a deeper, richer meaning of that word through the months. It is a beautiful lectio experience. This year the word that has chosen me is: BEAUTY. There is so much beauty around to invite me into a deepening awareness of all that is God, and to allow that beauty to embrace me each day. As I receive the gift of beauty each day, may I let it flow through me to others who need the embrace of beauty.
The word that has chosen me is, tenderly.
It started with the old hymn singing itself in my heart; Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling then it blossomed into, tread tenderly on this earth, and then it spilled over into treat others tenderly. My prayer it that my heart, mind, body and soul will embrace “tenderly” this coming year.
I love that hymn and that word. I would like to share that word.
Shipwrecked (from Brennan Manning’s essay of the same title)
The phrase that shimmers for me is: “be not afraid.”
“self-love”
When my Nia instructor said, “The root of all love is self-love,” I realized that I’ve been looking to others to give me the love that I should have been giving myself.
Hi Aimee,
Isn’t Nia wonderful? What a joyful way to learn about self-love!
Jennifer
Whatever –
Not trying sound flippant or depress . But just how I feel about the new year. Whatever happen next year, will happen. I ‘m throwing next year into the Creator’s hand.
Cathy, “Whatever” is the most spiritual word I know. Thanks for the reminder. Blessings for the new year.
Yes. You have redeemed the word!
Peace.
I had been feeling a lot of resistance to taking part in this year, but the word has been insistent. I feel the word knocking, I feel peace working its way into me.
Thank you Christine for the sanctuary you offer here, to so many of us, in so many ways.
SHELTER – from violence, violation, mayhem and despair