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:
- 4 people will win a signed copy of Eyes of the Heart: Photography as Christian Contemplative Practice (mailed directly from me in Ireland to you, anywhere in the world)
- 4 people will win a copy of Naked and You Clothed Me: Homilies and Reflections for Cycle A with two reflections by Christine, plus also Richard Rohr, Rob Bell, Jan Richardson, Fr. James Martin, SJ, and many more!
- 4 people will win their choice of self-study online classes from following: Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert: A Self-Study Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen, Soul of a Pilgrim: An Online Art Retreat, Seasons of the Soul, Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art of Reading the World, or Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice.
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!
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680 Responses
Expansion
My word for the year is a renewal of a “word”received 35 years ago . . . today I furthur pursue my life’s purpose ” Into the UNKNOWN!” At a retreat at that time, this word was given me in French: ” Elle partie ne sachant òu elle allait!” It was given me by Father Lassus, o.p. who wrote “Les Nomades de Dieu” way back then! . . .
This WORD has been a living support and guide to me during the many years passed, especially that even though the darkness hid the pathway, with the Grace of God and the “Living Word!” I simply went my way not knowing where this way would lead me!
It is my deepest HOPE that this word is still a guiding star for me who am turning 79 on January 7th, not knowing, but believing that the UNKNOWN contains the only essential thing, as stated by St. Exupery in his “Petit Prince” . . . “Ce qui est invisible est l”essentiel au coeur!”
Word: “Into the UNKNOWN!”
Dear Helen, touched by your words, and the word which is really a sentence, I feel drawn, the words draw me into them. Holy words spoken from the heart. The UNKNOWN, not known consciously ties up for me with TRUST into what is coming what is, walking without fear but LOVE into the light from wherever we are.
WIth much light that shines out from your heart – thank you
The word I chose it INTEGRATION.
What is really needed in my life is more organization, which I need time to do.
And space. So, since I need both time and space, which seem to be very tall orders, I thought I’d seek something that would encompass all of it, hence, INTEGRATION. If I can move toward having the physical things in my life match the spiritual, the things of time, fit with the things of mind and heart, that will meet my needs. Then I can stop tripping over myself in life. (I have recently fallen and hurt myself twice!) Thanks, for the opportunity to find a word!
I tried to attach the words to a song that I like, “Come and find the Quiet Center,” by Fran McKendree, but it would not attach. Sorry I can’t share it!
My word is TRUST. I want to let go of my scarcity mentality, and trust that I have, do and am all that I need. Especially this year as I prepare to retire from my job.
Have you seen the ‘action’ that goes with this thought of trust? My friend and expressive artist Julie Riley calls it ‘Faux Yoga.” lifting arms while in standing position, up for “I have enough,” out in front for “I do enough,” and out to sides for “I am enough,” then a bow, with hands folded in front of you, saying, “And if you disagree with me, it is none of my business.” It’s powerful to actually DO this.
my word for next year is BREATHE.
taking a moment to breathe connects me to my middle, my feelings, where i am right now. it expands me, makes me take up the space i take up, instead of pulling myself in to fit whatever space i imagine i have been assigned or that i deserve. and it takes the world into me, welcoming in all the riches that surround me.
taking a moment to breathe calms the frantic impulse to seek out who and where and how much of me to be. it establishes me vis à vis the world; here i am! it lends me solidity, for all the transience of a breath of air. it opens me up, frees me from hectic, senseless, pointless self-over-involvement to see, smell, hear, feel, and experience.
INTENTION
My word for 2014 is INTENTION. I want my actions to be intentional, purposeful, rather than reactionary. I want to be in the moment as well to experience all that the moment has to offer. The only way to be in the moment is to be intentional about my life.
Linger
The word that chose me this year is Linger. I am longing to experience lingering moment to moment, so that I open to the presence of God in all. I am far too inclined to make haste, so now I want to learn to make haste slowly, to linger.
My word is “open.” Ask and allow myself to be open to my goodness as well as my shadow self, to be open to greater love toward others, to be open to the Spirit whispering in my open space and moving me upwards on the spiral of life, to be open to recognizing the needs of so many and open to what I might do to help.
The word that has chosen me for 2014 is ESSENCE…
I believe this is my word for the coming year to remind me the true value of what is lies below the surface. In essence I am being reminded to slow down, savor, ponder, breathe and go inward. It is my year to embrace the contemplative life and behold the very essence of my experiences, not just the passing of time.
My word is Treasure. Where that will lead me, I’m not sure yet. I expect I will find out — in time.