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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

  2. Golden Light, Golden Drum
    I am doing your mini retreat and have come to dreams…and yesterday found the Golden Light sutra which also reminds me of the streaming, golden light at Camaldoli’s chapel, my spiritual home. It was an expected vision with a Tibettan Nun and her relics.
    So I am not sure what my word for 2014 is!

  3. My word for 2014 is SPONTANEOUS. After raising children for over 30 years, it is time for my husband & I to become playfully spontaneous again! Instead of considering if something is efficient, effective, scheduled & affordable … I want to thing “LET’S BE SPONTANEOUS & DO IT!”

  4. My word for 2014 is COURAGE. I have a challenging year ahead that will require me to stand up and be counted. I will be require to speak out which is something that does not come naturally to me.

  5. an addition to our house is being built as I speak for my SANCTUARY, which is my word for 2014. It was designed by my little sister, Carol before she died in March of Breast Cancer as a space for me to become. It is holy ground.

  9. I think my word for 2014 is BURN. Burn bridges to unhealthy attachments in my heart, burn calories, burn with passion, Literally burn candles and herbs in ceremonies and for prayer, burn with creative fervor… Flame can ignite, destroy, warm and call the holy to mind.