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
ESSENCE has been calling me — and I will bring through last year’s word, ILLUMINATE, to help me to see, know, and live it.
My word spoke to me through your 12 emails.
My word is “unfolding”. That was the start of my
Growth process last year and life is still unfolding.
My word is Astonishment, in all its positive connotations
My word is “shining”. This is a not a commonly used word for me, not part of my regular vocabulary when writing or talking with friends, yet it rather insistently claimed my attention recently. So I’m intrigued by the possibilities inherent in this word, this concept. It feels bright and hopeful, even bold! I look forward to seeking it out in other people’s poetry and lyrics, and using it in my writing and poetry.
Last year my word was soar. Great word but proved to be too big of a word. I felt more like I plodded. So this year I wanted a more down to earth word, so to speak. I toyed with walk but that felt a bit joyless. Not that I don’t derive great pleasure from walking but the word didn’t sparkle for me. Yesterday I read a post by a woman who was struggling with body image. She included a beautiful picture of her dancing. And that became my word:DANCE. Freeing, joyful, rhythmic, blessing, meditative, my body moving in gratitude.
The word resonating in my heart is “unhurried”. I feel a calling to slow down and be more present to people, expierences and the wonders of life for that is where I meet God. I love this John Ortberg quote “Hurry is not just a disordered schedule, hurry is a disordered heart”. Jeremiah 2:25 (MSG) ” Slow down, take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out. just what are you after anyway?” Good question…
Peace and love in the New Year!
My word is in Swedish “omhulda” to cherish, to embrace, to welcome with hospitality everything that will come
My word for 2014 is creativity.
We are too often pressed into being more and more productive. We are measured, rated and valued for our productivity. Concentrating on productivity alone leaves no room for the richness of creativity. Creativity often solves problems that would increase productivity if we simple sat back and allowed our imagination some space. I will be intentionally opening space in my schedule, my heart and my soul for creative adventures. I want to tilt my world in new angles and new perspectives in order to come up with creative visions and ideas. Tools: brain, brushes, paint, pencils, paper, scissors, sand… whatever might be used in an unexpected or new way.
My word is walk. I have been healing from surgery for a broken ankle, just finished Physical Therapy….and I slipped an fell last week and broke my other ankle. This time a much easier break and am healing well. I worked through the words heal, slow down, watch…..however walk spoke to me on many different levels and with new appreciation. Thanks for this opportunity to walk as a monk whole others are dancing!
My word is DWELL.
It came to me a few weeks ago as I was reading. I want to learn how to dwell in God’s presence, to walk in that dwelling, and be that dwelling place for the Spirit in every moment. And I want to step further into understanding how to dwell well in this place I am in now.