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
One of my clients shared this site with me and I have given thought to my word that I would like to share with you. My word is “Connection”. I intend to be connected to my environment, animals, the people in my life and all that I cross paths with. To be “connected” I have to open myself up, have the courage to be vulnerable, and embrace everyone and everything for who and what they are and see the beauty in everything. In being truly connected I will recieve love and belonging and success.
My word is ‘open-heartedness’.
My fascination with this word arises from the invitation to be open that comes at the end of my lying yoga practice. I am invited to assume an open body posture and, as I lie on the floor, to signal to the hundreds of pores to be open and receptive. In assuming this vulnerable position I also am reminded of the invitation to remain open-hearted to all the opportunities and challenges that will come my way in 2015.
My word for 2015 is “shalom.”
My word for the coming year is NEW. I want to crawl out of my box labeled “this is the way I always think or act” and be open to the New. New opportunities, new ways to service, new ideas, new ways to create, ….
My word is “fearlessness”. I’ve got a handful of anxiety disorders and spent most of 2014 entrenched in anxiety and fear and… I need to let go of that, as best I can. I need to take my blind leaps, even if I don’t know whether I’m going to land safely.
And again I say “acceptance”
A acceptance
C change happens
C center yourself
E experience peace
P praise God
T thank those who care
A answers come slowly
N never abandon hope
C change happens
E extend God’s unconditional love.
My word for 2015 is SURRENDER!
Surrendering my ‘willfulness’ to be in control and do things my way to a ‘willingness’ to align my heart, mind and body to God’s will.
Not MY will, but GOD’s will be done!
Abundant blessings to you all on your journeys in 2015!
Desiree
My word for 2015 is “Becoming.”
My word is actually based on a recent conversation with a very dear friend of mine that really hit home. The conversation was about where I’m at currently, where I need to be, and how to get to that place and become the person I’m supposed to be.
This initial reflection on my word was also triggered by all of the social unrest that I see, and the need for change to happen. That made me think of Mahatma Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” And now I know what I need to strive for in 2015 and beyond.
For 2015 I feel that God has given me the word NEW and many circumstances surrounding the word. At first I felt I forced it – because there is so much newness around me – new job that starts on 1/5, new baby on the way, moving to a new house – but I have felt God impress the word upon me in so any ways that the circumstances are just reminders of what he is calling me to in 2015. I’m excited to see what he will reveal as I rest in his word.
His mercies are NEW every morning – great is His faithfulness.
My word for this next year is wild. I have been sitting with “dwell” for over a year now, so realizing this new chapter is coming created some resistance. I particularly appreciated the suggestion to choose someone’s work to explore throughout the year, and after reading the introduction to Wendell Berry’s “This Day” became certain that both the correct word and individual have emerged to accompany me this next year.