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
Beauty is my word. I often see this world in such exquisite beauty that I wonder how the world of the after life could be so much more beautiful. When I stop to see the sacred beauty in the world around me and in the people around me, I am deeply happy.
FIRE:
I am being invited to bring new “fire” into my life, to fuel my passions, and to let my light shine more brightly.
The word coming to mind this weekend is: “Ponder”– as in Mary “pondering all these things in her heart.”
These past 6 months have involved immense changes and transitions in various parts of my life, including the transition of my mother from living independently to living in a nursing care facility. That has meant that my siblings and I have had to clean out/sort/disperse her belongings in the past month–deciding which things to incorporate into our own homes and which to let go of. Many memories arise out of this process. I need some time to “ponder these things in my heart,” and see what arises.
serendipity. This word is defined as “the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way” (computer dictionary). It originated in 1754 and was coined by Horace Walpole because of a fairy tale “The Three Princes of Serendip” where “the heroes were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.”
I hope for joyful, accidental discoveries this year which help me to strengthen my journey with God.
I pondered several words the last few days, but moments ago a word appeared: BELIEVE (as in believe you (me) can create/offer something meaningful/transformative).
My word for 2015 is Remember. As I am retiring on January 23rd, I do want to take the opportunities to remember and give thanks for all the blessings I have received over a 40 year ministry in Catholic Education.
The word that came to me this morning is “offering.” As soon as I contemplated, tears began sprouting. My life is an offering. It’s not about perfection or getting it right or being sure. It’s simply a beautiful offering coming from my whole being. And that is full of wonder and simplicity, honesty and joy. I bow in awe and humility.
Bless you! Bless you! My adored dancing friend from Oklahoma!
Bless-ed New Year.
Much love,
And, just know how much you gave to my life …….. in The Forest of Peace.
xoxoxo Win
My word is release, loosen the ties, free the worries, forgive the hurt, let go of fear, a new way to come into the year, making room for the Divine.
Soften
Remembrance is my word. This encompasses multi levels of remembering. Remembering the good and not so good parts of this life, remembering the people along the way and their gifts to me, but ultimately remembrance and re-membering my self. Already amazing insights and gifts have come my way helping to heal and enlighten. I see wonderful things for 2015!