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
Betrothed. I am embraced by my Beloved. A beautiful Union. I am safe and well taken care of. There is Magic in the Air I breathe. Great happiness! Betrothed!
Last year I mulled it over for awhile, but as soon as I slowed down enough to get to Facebook and saw Christine’s invitation, one word came to me:
“age.”
I’m not sure I like that word, but as both a noun and a verb, it could give me quite a lot to ponder. The word could apply to me, or to the world in general (ex: the age in which we live in). Being less than a week away from a momentous birthday, and today makes me think I’m not handling it as well as I thought, if I can remember it and ponder for a whole year, it might do me some good. Reflecting on my life could turn the negatives into positives.
The word that chose me for 2015 is: Wisdom
I wanted to pick the word look or awake. But everytime I tried to imagine working with my word Aware came to mind. So I feel Aware is the word that embodies looking for and being awake to new ideas this year.
Belong. After years of moving, and never feeling truly “at home,” I am feeling a yearning to settle where I am and try to make a home. Took me completely by surprise, which means it is likely of God rather than my own imaginings.
my word is is “trust.” the past year has been very challenging, & i finally realized that i don’t have to go it alone… i can pray and ask for help with even the simplest of things.
My “word” is “wait for God”. Making a new life in Santa Fe with a wonderful life partner is exciting, challenging, hopeful. After being here almost a year, I am growing impatient regarding what, where, with whom, I will share ministry–be it spiritual direction, retreat leadership, church involvements, or something I haven’t even thought of before. In my prayer over these past weeks, the words patience and wait have both come to me, more than once. And so I will commit to “waiting”, as life unfolds in this new place and time.
Doubt. Although definitely an invitation to go deeper, its also a caution to go slower and to use the head as well as the heart. So many things and people once trusted have given reasons not to trust. How to deal with the humanity of belief is where I am these days. Looking for the Divine and hoping I haven’t missed It.
My word for the year is “courage.”
I just graduated from seminary and am building a business offering spiritual support, teaching yoga, and painting. This is the first time I haven’t had a nine to five job with benefits, and it is scary. It’s also scary to call myself an artist and begin to market my artwork. I’m trying to keep Spirit at the center of all that I am doing and remind myself to have courage to live this life.
Blessed New Year, beloved monks!
My “Word” this year is “Emblazened “!
When I heard this whispered to me, I gasped!
After praying and praising our Lord, I began to see the transformation of the heart through the sacraments, the indelible Mark of Holy Spirit, Emblazened!
May your faith, hope and Love be Emblazened, beloved!
Blessings,
Mandy