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
Stillness. For weeks, I’ve been hearing the message inside, ‘I need to to live my life out of the center (inside of my life leading me!) ” Then comes TS Eliot’s lines from ‘Burnt Norton’, “At the still point of the turning world… there the dance is.” I can only find that point, and that dance if I find my way back to the center, and seek the stillness that can be found there — in the midst of all the busy-ness, the work, the challenges, the griefs and joys.
My word for 2013 is “communion” – a touchstone/ reminder to practice intimate participation with whatever arises in the moment, reaching into the dark with a sense of wonder, finding peace in not knowing, grounding and being.
My 2013 word is RADIANT. Light awakens life in me and if my attitude is one of positive energy and hope, then that candle within will be a shining radiance.
My word is butterfly wings. I hope to welcome change this year with appreciation for the fragility of life and with a lightness of heart.
My word is “kind” – a reminder to offer kindness, but perhaps more importantly, to accept it graciously from others.
Too often I feel a need to repay simple acts of kindness immediately so I won’t feel so indebted to the giver. In truth the giver usually expects nothing in return.
Sometimes kindness is just grace – receive it and rejoice.
The word I have received is Promise. Not only God’s faithfulness to us, but more, I feel it will be a year of promise. As I await healing from an injury before Christmas, I am holding on to this word as I feel called to participate in a residency I have been accepted to do which starts in a week and a half. I have faith that He has led me to this opportunity and I feel his promise will lead me there. So much to hope into and hold on to through Him alone.
My word is “NEW”. I want to see with “new” eyes, what might be deeper than my routine first glance of people, places, and situations …to see God anew as I am present each day to do God’s will.
“Open” chose me this year…open to new possibilities, open to challenges, open to changed plans, open to sorrow, laughter; open to receive and open to give!
DEEP PEACE … that which I need to hold on to … to lean in to … to fall safely through to the stillness …
deep peace that we do not understand …
Restoration and Discovery – lost my husband in September to cancer. this will be a year of healing and restoration and discovering who I am now without him.