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
My word is a phrase: “honor love”
I have a rough relationship with love and vulnerability, with a past of pain and wounding which makes entering into love, even friendship, with others and God feel like a challenge. I too often honor the fear I feel by running away from the hard of being loved and loving in return – the waiting and unknowing of vulnerability. I so often abandon my heart, or steel it and take control when I feel unsure of myself.
In the longing to connect and belong, the challenge to trust that I am loved, I want to honor love and not fear, to stay with myself and the gifts of friendship and love I’ve been given.
And then, the word “home” is resonating too.
The word that chose me is SPACE. What makes space sacred? Is there a difference between inner and outer space?
How do I hold space for another, for myself, for the sacred in everything, in every moment ? These are just a few questions this word offers as,gift.
For the past few weeks I have been pondering my Word for 2016. Suddenly this morning during my meditation my word came to me. It is Possibilities. I begin this new year letting go of the past, open to all possibilities. I have no idea what this year will bring for me, but I do know that all things are possible with God.
My word is MORE! This is my year to do more, be more, give more, and help more. We have more potential inside of us then we realize and when we dig deep and find it and release it we can do great things for ourselves and others in this beautiful world. When we give more, we receive more. When we help more we are touched and receive more than we give. So this year is going to be MORE bountiful and full for me which will extend to those around me!
At first I thought my word was “wait”… then it shifted to the word “unfold”. Rather than to “wait” for big things to happen, to live in the unfolding of each moment. I’m excited to see how the word “unfold” invites me to live differently this year!
My word is reciprocity. It is the key to finding truth, balance, and harmony in relationships. Giving without expectation of return is part of this, somewhat of a paradox.
My word for 2016 is FELICITY.
It is easy to be blinded by sadness, pain and even evil which is loud so loud, in our world, yet this year my focus is always
going to be on felicity . . . joy, happiness rapture. bliss. This is my focus and I love the word FELICITY.
It rolls off my tongue and every time I say it or think it I smile. It is a word so satisfying yet rarely used.
My word of invitation for 2016: mindfulness …to be present in the now…
My word is goodness to accompany the word mercy at the Pope’s suggestion. As I sought my word, the phrase, “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days,” came to my mind and reminded me of God’s faithful presence in my life. I want to find goodness in each person and event of my life – even those that cause dis-ease to my spirit. I started using it a bit before Christmas and somehow the time since then has seemed to be a time of feeling graced and in a good space. All is well with my soul which seems to be singing these days.
As I went through the days of the mini retreat the phrase “seek light” kept coming to me through all my devotions and daily readings. The Spirit was at work nudging me along in her soft tender way. This year I want to be more aware of the Light both in myself and my brothers and sisters.
Vicki Carlson
Oak Island,NC