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
Welcome.
The word for 2015 that keeps coming to me is “umbrella.” No deep meaning has arisen to it yet, but I am sure that over this new year that it will be revealed.
My word is ‘unknowing’. Other words came to me but this one stayed!
I am finding that to be in a place of unknowing is a restful space……a letting go of effort. Even in conversation the space of unknowing can allow for more listening and silence. I am enjoying this word and it is already beginning to permeate my daily life in a healing way.
Thankyou for the mini retreat!
Equilibrium. With so much light and dark in this world, and in myself, I want to learn how to hold the light and dark together, in balance – to be whole.
My word is Let Go. This is twofold; allowing myself to release things from the past and allowing new things into my life in the months ahead. Having come through treatment for breast cancer in 2013 and recovery over 2014, I am learning to accept that some things in life will never be the same again but there are unknown things ahead for me to explore. Both areas are calling me to a deeper trust in the Lord on the path that He has for me. Jer 29:11frequently comes to mind.
My word is “grace”. This is a concept, a feeling, an action extended to me, and I feel called in. I am ready to accept this word and its many layers. Thank you for the invitation to share something so sacred!
My word for the year will be “and.” I think there is a whole world in this word for me to ponder :)
The word which chose me is…desert! I am in the process of writing a blog post about it and will post it when it is complete.
Thanks Christine…the 12 day guided emails were great!
So far my word is savour but Inwill see what dsvwlops over the next few days as the New Year begins.
“everything pure, divinely beautiful & life-sustaining” is my phrase for 2015. I deeply knew this was my word or phrase as when these words arose from within me I was instantly transported into the beautiful God Consciousness vibration. These beautiful words come from something I had written over the past year. “From the deep well of His nourishing Love, I receive everything pure, divinely beautiful & life-sustaining” ~ Antiera-Jessibiah ??
Thank you so much Christine, for the beautiful gifts that you share with us all. I am so grateful to have found your books and website. Wishing everyone a very blessed & deeply beautiful 2015.