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
My word for 2015 is “seeker.” After my pilgrimage, I am open to all that the universe offers, and am actively seeking Him and ways to serve.
“Hesed” is my word. I first encountered it in Bourgeault’s book “Mystical Hope” and it must have resonated more deeply than I thought for a year later it seemed to drift into a moment ‘of God’ as if to say what is being experienced right now is hesed … “an infallible link of love that holds the created and uncreated realms together” Bourgeault I’ll be journeying with this word for a while, I think.
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Maureen, I think I recall this word is one of the Hebrew words for covenant? Great choice! Love the artwork–did you paint it?
Today’s scripture readings included Luke 22:31-38, and the word that shimmered for me was the last in the text, ‘enough’.
I have more than ‘enough’ stuff, while others are hungry and wanting.
On my TV screen, I watch injustices play out in our streets, our courtrooms, and I say, “ENOUGH!”.
And when I experience those moments of peace and a beautiful balance of all things being right, it is ‘enough’. For me the word speaks of harmony, abundance, as well as a call for justice.
My word for the coming year (or my coming life!) will be “Vigilant.” By definition ..to be ever awake and alert; to be aware. As my years tick by, I want to “pay attention” to it all – to God in all – to savor it all.
Wonder. This word feels full of promise.
awakening to heaven…to the unfathomable Great Mystery and the afterlife
My word found me in a dream about a week ago. I’ve never received my word in such a unique way. I’m excited to explore it — my word is “treasure”.
When I recently was in Rwanda the birds seemed to follow me everywhere so I think the word that chose me is “look at the birds”. Enjoy their company and chatter and learn from them to trust and just be.
My word for 2015 is “understanding”. It seems the we need to step back and gain more of it for ourselves, for each other, between neighbors, political parties, cultures, and countries. It is a stepping stone towards peace.
My word this year needs to be “self-care.” I have been putting out in so many ways for so long, I’m strung out, and making bad self-care decisions. I need to back up and take care of me.