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Give Me a Word 2016: 7th Annual Abbey Giveaway

SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2016

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 January 6, 2016 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.

Subscribe to our email newsletter and you will receive a link to start your mini-retreat today. Your information will never be shared or sold. (If you are already subscribed to the newsletter, look for the link in today’s email).

WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ON JANUARY 6TH!

We are delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey:

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 we will announce the prize winners!

If this is your first time commenting at the Abbey, or you are including a link, your comment will need to be approved before appearing, which usually takes less than 24 hours.

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712 Responses

  1. “Dance” is my word for 2016. It chose me. “Saw” the image of me dancing and it stirred my heart. The word has surprised me ever since, visiting me in books, songs and even during conversations. I was recently browsing handmade cards in a local Irish store and the first card I picked up had the words: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storms to pass…it’s learning to dance in the rain.” May the new year be filled with the dance of wonder, surprise, and beautiful moments that take my breath away! May my heart be open and my spirit willing to take the hand of 2016 and step into the dance awaiting me!

  2. “Community” is the word that has chosen me for 2016. In a dream I was told that my healing will come in community. So I am learning to let go of “doing”, and open up to being in relationship and in community.

  3. Perfection: What I have strived for all my life.

    I will be abandoned, criticized, rejected, laughed at, ostracized. I will be alone,

    But, if I do everything perfectly ….

  5. My word is believe…believe I can do it. Believe God is there. Believe things can change.. Believe in the spiritual process .etc…

  7. My word is curiosity. I suspect that this word arrived to support me in moving out of self imposed limits

  8. I have four words for this year, which I keep repeating in my mind like a mantra. I have actually considered getting them tattooed on the insides of my wrists to remind me all the time. They are: Integrity, Compassion, Humility, and Purity. I think for here, I’ll choose Integrity, as it encompasses all four words for me. Thank you for the opportunity to share!

  9. My word for 2016 is “feeds.” “Feeds” is short for, “”What feeds my soul?” And that is the question I feel called to ask myself every day. I see it as a plumbline question, a guide for me to use as I pray, work, rest, and enjoy God’s gifts and promises. What feeds my soul can be as simple as petting my cat, or as profound as hearing Handel’s Messiah. I believe this will help me discern whether an invitation is a call from God or a call to “busy-work.’ Thank you Christine for this opportunity and challenge.

  10. My word is “Resolution”. I resolve – to do what? – is a question that comes to my mind. To re-solve. How will that go? Solution – what needs to be solved? To be resolute in my stance about what? All of these keep me thinking about how to apply this word. I am sure there will be many more permeations and iterations of the word over the year. But, I have the feeling that I must be steadfast in holding to my resolve to bring into creation that which I have wanted to do since before I retired and that was 8 years ago! I feel there are things I need to bring out of the darkness of my mind and into the light of the world. But, I have been pulled away, time after time with helping people and organizations, prevented by that involvement and lack of energy in getting settled into tackling those works. So, I feel the word is telling me, that it has to be now or never and birthing it is better, by far, than not letting it live. Resolution – here I come.