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
Threshold!
2015 Word is Trust. Even when I pray I find myself playing God and telling Him instead of listening and trusting in His timing and not mine. Letting go is a 24/7 struggle for me in my spiritual journey.
The word BEHOLD has called me as my mantra for 2015 … BEHOLD God’s Presence in all creation … BEHOLD the wonders in the present moment … BEHOLD all the love in the world … BEHOLD!
My word(s) for 2015:
Truth
Being
Courage
My word is “self-control”, because all of my resolutions are in vain, if I lack the self-control to follow through on them. I know I need God’s help, as well, but God expects me to partner with Him.
Wonder. Rabbi Heschel: “I did not ask for success. I asked for wonder. And you gave it to me.” This word came yesterday. I started with ponder showing up in my readings, but I felt it was beyond “ponder”. Interestingly, ponder and wonder are only off by one letter. I pondered through your twelve days and beyond before the word appeared. I plan to record the moments of wonder in 2015 in a Blessings or Wonder jar to be reflected upon at the end of the year.
My word for 2015 is EMBRACING, a verb. I am being called to actively be embracing my call as monk and artist and living not just in words but in action. embrace was my word in 2014 and I did not start living the life I am called to live. I need action.
Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on the past and the coming year.
My word is LINE. It is a simple concept and open to many explorations; it’s a word used negatively or positively. My art has explored the line for years. A chronic medical condition is helping me explore the line emotionally and cognitively.
Triumph.
2 Cor. 2:14: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”
This verse reverberated through my spirit recently, as I face considerable challenges in 2015. I felt the steel go into my soul as that word “triumph” swept from my spirit feelings of being overwhelmed, daunted, defeated. I could expect triumph, if only over those feelings, if I kept my mind, heart and focus on this truth. Grateful for the ‘attitude adjustment!’ Happy New Year everyone!
My word for 2015 is “Evolve.” My word for 2014 was “Emerge” and “Evolve”seems to be naturally flowing for 2015. It symbolizes growth and pouring forth to me.