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
In 2013, I helped my 92-year old mother sell her home and relocate to independent living in a high-rise retirement community in Virginia Beach. I spent much time traveling between Pennsylvania and Virginia, working on my art, writing and poems as I could. (I did submit three mixed-media pieces to the S.H.A.P.E. gallery in Shippensburg, PA, a first for me!) As I enter the New Year, I hope to pull together a manuscript for a second book of poems, complete a children’s book with mixed media illustrations and make progress on a miscellany of other creative projects in various stages. The word “promises” and the phase “press on” both resonate for me.
My word for 2014 is HOPE. Last year my word was Sacrifice, and it turned out to be a very challenging year for me and my family, filled with change and challenges. So, looking forward to the New Year with HOPE for a blessed year, renewed and reminded of the love we are given and can give to each other
My word is ‘Forgiveness’. Forgiving myself, forgiving others …. Finding compassion and acceptance for the things I deem imperfect or unacceptable and allowing my humanity to exist…. Without beating myself and others up. Letting go of the critique and the judge and forgiving myself and others for proposed failures and shortcomings…. Finding peace and whole ness through forgiveness
The word that chose me was intention. I’m in the process of a divorce. The overwhelming pain can sometimes feel unbearable. But feelings change! I “intend” to make 2014 truly a NEW year!
The word I received is “live”. A new year, pregnant with life, and the call is to LIVE, really LIVE the new and unexpected, the ordinary and daily, the simple moments and the joyful-challenging-heart breaking-mystical moments. Every day upon waking, the invitation is to really LIVE the moments offered as gift.
My word for this year is LIFE. Ever since signing up for the retreat in Ireland this coming August-September I have been filled with new life. I have dived into anything Irish I can find and talked to everyone about their own experience there. I have baked Irish Soda Bread and eaten Irish stew. I pray Irish prayers and dream Irish dreams. I am slowly learning to be more present to this life and thanks to Christine I am trying to be more present to the thresholds I move through each day.
The word that chose me is, ‘pause.’
courage…
creativity…
These were my two words, until it became clear that adoration is the word, and the way that my Beloved (my God) will inform the other two.
After ponderings of your mini-retreat and today , the anniversary of mother’s passing, our Bright Star… the words that chose me are O Butterfly, O Golden Light, O Golden Drum…
Fear Not.
Last year my recently college graduated son was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphomia. Instead of launching into his life and career as anticipated, he came home for chemotherapy and radiation appointments. Our lives were projected into a journey of fear and grace I could never have imagined, but God, as He is want to do, used this painful and fertile soil to tuck me into Him. This year, I feel called to move beyond fear and live boldly and courageously in tune with my life’s purpose.
I am moved that you were led to choose “Fear Not”. May grace, courage and hope be with you and your son as you move through this journey!
My Avatar Meher Baba (God) declares,
Love and Fear cannot exist at the same time.
I am an older receiver (a benefactor) of cancer and getting close to my departure. I attest to the truth of this teaching and find myself on the love side of life.