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 is OPENING. Here’s a French Pantoum I wrote to accompany it after moving through prayful time collaging.
Opening
I am hawk opening my gaze to the pulsating night sky,
I am out of the woods,
I am trespassing on Holy Feathered ground,
I am raven…ebony not ivory.
I am out of the woods,
I am red currants devoured by cardinal & her mate,
I am raven…ebony not ivory,
I am chickadee shrouded in down on a branch of peace & hope heavy with snow.
I am red currants devoured by cardinal & her mate,
I am trespassing on Holy Feathered ground,
I am chickadee shrouded in down on a branch of peace & hope heavy with snow,
I am hawk opening my gaze to the pulsating night sky.
My word for this year is ’embody’. I seek to be active in developing my belief in self and in this I have realized I become more embodied. So to embody my belief in myself. A journey of growth. Confidence. Healing.
Deb
A second word in addition to “Body” has chosen me so I wanted to offer it as well. The word is “humility.” I am at a place in my life that I am forced to look deeply within in order to learn and grow. It’s a very difficult spot to me in, but with humility, which I’ve come to learn means being open and teachable, will guide me and see me through whatever is to come.
My word is “pondering”. I have a few things to ponder, and I want to spend more time pondering God’s goodness this year.
BEAUTY – to be beauty in the world; to foster beauty in all relationships with all Creation; to acknowledge, honour and celebrate beauty where ever I experience it; to be grateful for beauty; to dance beauty in every step I take; to wallow consciously in the beauty that surrounds me! BEAUTY!
My word is “Be”. Just “Be” in the moment. “Be” who you are.” Be” happy.
My word is “peace.” It is related to other key words/phrases like “cave” and listening to how I might worship or be in a spiritual community that nurtures me and this uni-verse.
My word came in a dream. A man riding a beautiful horse, bareback, stopped in mid- gallop, turned to me and said, ” your word is Unbridled.” Can’t really argue with that. I am looking forward to the thrills in store for me in this Unbridled year.
darkness … i will not be whole or at ease until i visit my darkness. get to know it, embrace it, chew it a bit and get the gristle stuck in my teeth. my word of the year is darkness.
Compose ~ create, calm, put together pieces…today to me it means write, sit peacefully with the spirit, make photo mandalas, create a differently shaped life in retirement with my life partner. I’m curious what all it will come to mean.