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 word for 2015 is REFLECT
Reflect on your true nature.
Essence flows from your soul,
Flowering into creation,
Loving into wholeness
Everything that is
Currently in separation.
Time heals all wounds.
My word is Prayer, and actually it is part of a phrase for the year: Be a Prayer. I am called to embody and act out my prayer this year. I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on this question and receive my word/phrase for the coming year. It will be exciting to learn how God calls me to be a prayer.
Deep gratitude for the gift of this retreat…
I am so excited that the word that has chosen me for 2015 is “Embody”.
I stand on the threshold holding the excitement of the possibility, challenge and transformation potential!
I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to do this retreat for the second time.
It is with great sadness that I leave the word “flow,” yet I know that it is time to move on to the word “joy.” Interestingly, God’s hand was in this process at least a month before starting the retreat- working through a number of people and circumstances. For 2015 JOY dawns…
Thanks Abbey!
Christine, I need to tell you how enriching this short pilgrimage has been to my Holy Season. The past two years have contained much deep and unexpected deaths in our family. Initially I thought my Word was ‘Life’. But as I journeyed and the mist cleared, it became plain. My Word is: ‘Listen’.
Blessings…
Paint, pray, and play like a (can’t publish the word, but it’s inspired by an essay in Cheryl Strayed’s book Dear Sugar)–for me it’s all about giving it all I have in all three areas. Sorry if I’ve offended anyone, but that’s what came for me!
I love the 12 day guidance, Christine. Thanks so much for helping me close out and enter into 20-15 with joy and VERVE!
Love it, Suzie! Go for it!!!
My 2015 word is pilgrimage. As I walk towards retirement in early 2016 I am called to savour the transition journey into my next phase of life and life’s work.
Receive – I will make time to receive Gods Love in 2015. I will take time to
Be present in the moment, read the holy words, learn from others, listen to the heart of my cave, practicing hospitality with myself and others. I have found a soul friend that will help me process and I have a new journal! I beginning to feel this year the artist within will really break free. I’ve signed up for 2 art classes! I am ready to receive!
The world is ready to receive from you as well! Your talent and wisdom inspire.
‘Every’ – Its so easy to live partially, to love some people, to give God part of my time. Can I live for every moment, seeing God in every person, and every aspect of the world? Can I use every sense that has been given to me, find every gift God has bestowed on me?
Awake — I love that it is a noun and a verb; a state of being and a call to action. The word also reminds me of this prayer from Compline, with its sense of balance and serenity —
Save us, O Lord, while waking,
and guard us while sleeping,
that awake we may watch with Christ
and asleep may rest in peace.