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
“Settled” is the word that chose me. A sense of calm and peace, it is more about being ‘settled’ in my spirit than being in one place. ‘Settled’, for me this year, also implies an acceptance of whatever chaos and turmoil chance to come my way – knowing that I am where Spirit has taken me.
SANGUINITY. Merriam-Webster gives one definition: an inclination to believe in the most favorable outcome. Another I’ve seen is ‘at ease, accepting.’
Cultivating sanguinity works for me. For me, it’s another way of saying BE HERE NOW. Don’t fret about the past, don’t be anxious about the future. Where are you right now, and how can you be the best YOU in this moment?
SANGUINITY.
My word for 2015 is “enough” and pondering the complete mystery of this word. It seems to be the word God’s whispered in my ear and I am listening!
“FREE …to choose the ‘best’ over the ‘good’…. Free to choose the ‘unexpected’ over the ‘plan’…. Free to choose ‘that which deepens God in me’ over that which does not… Free….to wait for as long as it takes….”
My word is Gentle…it came to me while I was on a yoga retreat realizing how not gentle I was towards myself…a real aha moment….The word just came up so spontaneously it surprised me!
My word is “bloom.” This word invites invites me into more courageous self-expression in the moment, calling forth what God has seeded with me. It also invites me to encourage the blooming of those near me.
Savor resonates after 2014 which was Surrender. Now it’s time to Savor all that was given through Creator. From meals to sunsets, from conversations to sleep – it’s time to Savor!!
my word for 2015 is INTENTIONAL.
I’ve learned that when I give myself permission to get away from things like planning & to-do lists I’m more uptight & stressed because I forget things. I also make very poor health choices. I need to stop living on auto-pilot & start being more intentional.
“Tend” rose up yesterday. Tend this new vision that God gave me last year. Tend the other responsibilities within my circle of care. Tend my own heart and self. I look forward to living into this word during 2015. Blessings to all you, my fellow word-seekers.
My word is Connection. I have a tendency to be a Lone Ranger, so in 2015 I open myself to fruitful partnerships and nurturing of a tribe. I also open my heart and soul to making new connections in my creative life.