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:
- One signed copy each of Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, The Artist’s Rule, and Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire.
- One space in Sacred Seasons: A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
- 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 we will announce the prize winners!
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712 Responses
Open is my word for this coming year. I want to keep my heart and mind open to all the possibilities God brings to me. Remaining open to God’s whispers opens the doors to yes.
My word is enduring. When I first wondered what this year’s word might be, enduring just came to me and has stayed. I like the idea of the permanence and strength I feel when I ponder on the word.
Delight
What a beautiful exercise…
I had an idea that my word for 2016 would be “Be Still” or if I need to reduce it to just one “Still”.
The acrostic poetry exercise this morning was perfect to capture what this word means to me…
Be Still
Bird songs call – my seeker’s heart awakens at the
early morn’s invitation. I am a
silent witness, senses hushed as
timelessness weaves quiet and calm
into the white pause of a contemplative
life…soul lingering at dawn’s altar…longing…
lingering…and then His presence…
Rooted shall be my word for the year. I long to feel the pull of the soil as I go deeper into the earth, and then rise above it with
beauty to express, joy to give and strength to continue to grow.
Mercy…what is mercy? When is it used? How does it effect me?
Today as I was writing and doodling my prayers, I believe my work jumped out from me. FREEDOM.
PEACE
Wonder
Light.
I think this word has been pursuing me all year and has really come to the forefront this Advent. About finding the light within and being a light-bringer to others…