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
I am sensing the word calling me this year is humility. Recently I have made some costly mistakes because I thought I knew what I was doing, rather than getting all the facts. I look forward to the mini-retreat you are offering. Thank you Christine!
‘Radical Availability’ to God, to self to others from the depths of one’s heart where all roots are one.
My word for 2015 is “Piercing.” In looking for the truth under things, in boldly exploring new ways of being, in experiencing the wild Presence who will not let me go, I want the brightness of being to pierce my dailyness. Blessings!
For the coming year my word is communion. This word calls together and invites. It moves me more deeply into the reality of a generous God.
My word for 2015 is “Mercy”. I am being strongly called to search for, accept, and do God’s will this coming year. Knowing my tendency to backslide into self-centeredness and peter out on my good intentions–I am already grateful for the mercy He will show as I stumble along the path to Him.
As always, each word and phrase chosen by others speaks to me. I look forward to this time of year and the wonderful words and intentions expressed. Blessings to each of you on your path.
My word for the coming year, 2015, is to Receive! In all honesty I spend a lot of my time ‘giving’ and value that highly and enjoy giving in a variety of ways, but realize that I also need the gift to receive – all that comes my way in the new year with gratefulness for whatever the year holds! To take the time to receive all that God offers me this year!
My word is “courage”. Courage to be fully myself in my work and in all my relationships. Courage to grow when needed. Courage to pray when prayer seems empty. Courage to stay silent; courage to speak.
My word for 2015 is Embark. It came out of reflection in my spiritual director’s peer group. I am embarking on an 1872 wooden sailing vessel in September 2015 as part of tracing the roots of my birthmother. My great great grandfather built the wooden sailing ship the Canada in 1898 but because I was adopted and I have learned that the restoration group that bought it from my family failed to restore it, I never experienced being on that ship with my family. My birth father has just told his two adult children about me and I will be visiting them in the coming year as well – embarking on another new part of the spiritual journey to reconnect with my roots.
How exciting for you–enjoy! I am also tracing my roots and it is both fun and frustrating. Embark is a wonderful word for you. May your year be full of wonderful reunions and adventures. :-)
Barbara
Sally! This is amazing. I would love to connect with you sometime, heard you are now north of Charlotte. I regret we never did during WOTM/POTA. I have an adopted daughter, 14.5, who dearly longs for more connection with her bio-mom.
Roxanne
My word is TRUTH, which refers to the real truth about me, I guess the way God would easily see me, which I am starting to acknowledge, and of which I notice that it is very healing if other people acknowledge it. When I allow myself to know this truth, I am able to fully be here, body, mind and soul, without needing to escape or flee or disconnect.
My word is “leashed by love”.