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!
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.
712 Responses
I feel I can now share this word that presented itself a few nights ago while I was meditating.
Since receiving it I have been considering how it feels and sounds, letting it rest in my heart, allowing the rest of this body/mind to acquaint itself with this new request that will follow me throughout this New Year.
It arose as a phrase: “Endear yourself to Me.”
It is so lovely a tune, I’m overjoyed knowing I didn’t think of it: Endear…
Ivette
Detach / letting go…
… ego, images of God, control, expectations, unhealthy patterns/habits…
Here we go! :-)
I asked Spirit that the word, or word phrase, that would guide me in 2016 would be one that would reflect how I am feeling inside at this time of my journey. I feel ready to experience life, to learn, to understand, to wonder and take into my being what is being offered to me. So the word phrase that chose me was All-Embracing. My 2016 will be a year of embracing all that God offers to me.
“Surrender to Rest” is my word phrase. It is a posture of living and it will lead me to the Sabbath rest.
PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures –
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Thank you Christine for the retreat.
Blessings
Listen is my Word for 2016 (anagram of silent)
Love’s longing for silence
Intensity burning in my heart
Silent is the sacred space
Teeming with joy and love
Energized by God
Nothing can harm me in that place of love
Create. Create is my word for 2016. It has been with me awhile, but it is continuing to make itself very clear.
Subliminal – to experience with all the senses that which is beyond word or thoughts. To reach for the sublime in everyday tasks.
My word finally found me.
Dance.
I aspire to live this year with joy, dancing along the ups and downs.
Aithentocity! Authentic relationship to God and others…
JESUS is my word. Just finished reading BRIGHT EVENING STAR; MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION by Medeleine L’Engle–an autobiographical of her journey with Jesus with its questions and mystery. I’ve new questions and much to ponder this coming year.