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Give Me a Word 2014: Fifth Annual Abbey Giveaway

Share your Word for 2014

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 below by Monday, January 6, 2014 and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below). Last year we had 840 people share!

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 6th!

I am delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey:

So please share your word (and it would be wonderful to include 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 6th I will announce the prize winners!

If this is your first time commenting at the Abbey, or you are including a link, your comment will need to be approved before appearing, which usually takes less than 24 hours.

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680 Responses

  1. my word is “untie”. I’ve been introduced to Our Lady who unties knots in our life. I have many knots that I need help in untieing, knots that keep me from being all that God has called me to be.

  2. My word is “steadfastness.” I need to keep on keeping on and not give up hope that I can succeed at my dreams.

  3. “Reach” has been selected for me. It invites a movement. To go up, out, beyond or even inward, deeper than. I know this word will be the encouragement I seek.

  4. Well, it looks like I have 2 words this year…I have kept trying to reduce them to one or the other, and this morning in meditation I realized that they are like binary stars, and my invitation this year is to explore the interface between the 2. They are ARTIST and REVERENCE. And, lo and behold, after meditation I was reading some Hafiz, and what did he say? “A great palette of light has embraced this earth.” (I have let a word choose me for over 20 years, and this feels like a stretch/risk to allow for what is this year, that 2 have chosen me…and yet this time in my life is a time of stretching, and risking, and honoring what is rather than what “should be.”

  5. turning/s ~ I sense that in 2014, daily turnings will create a startling, surprising, significant turning in my life.

  6. turning/s ~ I sense that in 2014, daily turnings will create a startling, surprising and significant turning in my life.

  8. My word is STRETCHING! I can feel it in my bones that I will be stretched in ways I could never image. I am starting a business and know the incredible amount of work and dedication it will ensue. I am thoroughly excited and scared at the same time. God has shown me he is there every step of the way, I just need to keep stepping forward.

  9. I usually have to wait and wait for a word to choose me, but this year it’s come right away. My word is RIPENING. This word has really been developing most of this year as different parts of my life have bloomed and now have the opportunity to become full and lush and flavorful.

  10. My word is PRESENT. By being present, I am more likely to connect with the Divine. Hopefully I’ll be able to cut back on the incessant chatter my little self loves so much. By being present, I will experience more of the world around me. Being present will encourage me to be more contemplative.