Share your Word for 2015
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 Tuesday, January 6, 2015 and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below).
A free 12-day online mini-retreat to help your word choose you. . .
As in past years, 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. Even if you participated last year, you are more than welcome to register again.
Sign up here and you can start your mini-retreat today. Once you subscribe you will receive the first email within an hour and then one email each day for 12 days. Your information will never be shared or sold.
Win a Prize – Random Drawing Giveaway on January 6th!
I am delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey and friends and supporters of the Abbey’s work:
- One space in the upcoming online Abbey retreat Illuminating the Way: Epiphany and New Year Retreat with Monks, Mystics, & Archetypes (a fabulous way to begin the year!)
- A copy of Dana Reynolds‘ fabulous gold medal winning novel Ink and Honey
- A 6-week self study course from Dana Reynolds: Your Sacred Life Artisan’s Book of Wonderment
- A New Year Sacred Reading from the Ronna Detrick (let a woman from scripture accompany you into the new year!)
- A copy Betsey Beckman’s fabulous dance of The Creation on DVD (be inspired to dance into the new year)
- A copy of As I Lay Pondering from Kayce Hughlett (a wonderful book of daily reflections to accompany you into the new year)
- A 2015 calendar from Stacy Wills featuring her alcohol ink paintings (be blessed with Stacy’s stunning images each month)
- A copy of Richard Bruxvoort Colligan’s new album Love Stands With, with songs based on justice-oriented Psalms (be moved by powerful music to inspire your heart to prophetic action in the coming year)
- 4 people will win a copy of Sick and You Cared for Me: Homilies and Reflections for Cycle B with one reflection by Christine, plus also Richard Rohr, Rob Bell, Jan Richardson, and many more!
- 4 people will win their choice of self-study online classes from the 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 to receive ongoing inspiration in your in-box. 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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804 Responses
My words for the past three years have been completion (two years), beginning (mostly as in new beginnings), and for 2015, the word that keeps resonating is Bride. I have been drawn to reading the second chapter of Hosea in the Bible, and the return of the bride to her husband. It’s a picture of renewed intimacy with God. I’m thinking that last year that this was part of the connotation of my word “beginning”–beginning again with God. But “bride” takes it to a whole new level–far greater intimacy. I long for more quiet time alone with God–more room for what is sacred. I long to feel God’s nearness and His protection and provision. I am also reminded of Rev. 2 and the admonition to return to “my” first love (taking a little poetic license here). So I see this year as one of repentance, returning, and restoration of intimacy with God.
Hope – I work as a Hospice Chaplain and sometimes struggle to keep hope front and center as the core of the message that I share with patients and their families. So my word for 2015 is ‘hope’ and also the color ‘yellow’.
Hi Stephanie,
I’m just starting to discern my Word (I like to do the mini-retreat during the 12 days of Christmas), but I’ve noticed some recurring glimmers of “Hope” lately. This came today from David Steindl-Rast:
“The hope that is left after all your hopes are gone — that is pure hope, rooted in the heart.”
(from Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer)
And it brought to mind those last days with my parents – made so much softer by the presence of some amazing Hospice workers. So I wanted to share that with you. And to thank you for all you do.
Jane
My word for the year will be “commit”. And immediately following the flowering of this word, I thought, “maybe I should wait and see if some better word comes along.” LOL! I guess I have what I need. I’m excited to commit to self-care, to art, to moving, and to asking for what I need.
My word for the year will be “embrace.” I believe I was given this word to remind me to embrace change, embrace it with loving curiosity, with eagerness and willingness. Also to embrace opportunities that present themselves, to step out of my comfort zone, wrap my arms around these “openings” and hug them gently and then act upon them!
Mothering – On retreat recently with Paula D’Arcy, this word kept shimmering for me and all kinds of images and thoughts arose – such as in what ways can I mother others (love unconditionally as many Mothers do) – what people and circumstances require I love in this way. Then immediately, my great nephew died and mothering so many, though it came easily, there was heartbreak and a real emptying of myself where I was very aware of my own need for mothering. So need to reflect how I can affirm and nurture self through my inner Mother core, as well as who in my life now is a mothering presence to me? Yes, I can see that I started to pick blessing as my word – but was immediately confronted with my spirit that insisted I pick mothering instead.
First I received the word “Soar” (to rest into the winds) and then “Stick” and after talking and sharing with my therapist we feel “stick” will be my word for 2015. I have DID’s a most hard thing to wrap my mind around but does make sense now for how much of my life has been played out. After going for a walk and stick came to me and walked this image popped into my mind and I came home and drew it that day. A few days later I wrote the suggested poem theme that our Abbeys Christine shared in her generous offering of the word retreat.
Stick
Stick you called to me as I journeyed
Take me; you tossed about in my head
I reached down and lifted you up, we
Continued walking together, your
Knobs, comfort our many hands.
Dec. 20, 2014
my picture did not show, so here again I will try. I have two spirit guides which our active in my life and take over for me when I cannot handle things, one Indian, she holds the top of the stick and my Chinese guide holds the bottom. Great balance! While “we” all take hold for our togetherness :)
BEYOND :: Shrugging off the Shoulds, limiting beliefs, constrictive habits, old paradigms ready for compost pile. Clearing my sacred container. Stepping into Holy Invitation. ?
I have felt the pull of a few words – related yet not quite right -until all I can think about is the word —– SPARKLE-
a bit of a surprise really – yet it keeps popping in front of me – over and over – and I can relate it to each other word that tugged so gently – so that is it !!
Expansiveness is the word that resonates with my beingness and where my soul is being called. I am grateful for this gift.
CREATE….. as in create art, create elements of my life that I am passionate about….create new opportunities – for work, for circles of people, for travel….create wonder and joy….create love!! I am very excited for this year!
susan