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
The word ‘love’ has been impressed upon my heart. It speaks of ancient wisdom, deep knowing and new awakenings to come as the love of God, love for God, for self and others are all waiting to be explored in the year ahead.
This is a comment for, Elena Henderson says
“The word that chose me is SPACE. What makes space sacred? Is there a difference between inner and outer space?”
All of the word replies resonate with me, Christine and John had quite a vision for this “word” commitment.
Elena, your word stood out because by coincidence, I have two copies of “The Inner Reaches of Outer Space:
Metaphor as Myth And As Religion” by Joseph Campbell. My intuition prompted me to mention this to you.
My word is Release. I’m anticipating changes, including some endings, in the coming year. I realize I need to let go of clinging, and fear of change. I also need to let go of fears that currently have me in their grip. And I need to be gentle with myself. Release is about letting go, but also setting free.
Release
Running sand through fingers
Exhale the tightness
Live this moment, not the next
Enter the spacious place
Ask the beautiful question
Set the caged birds free
Elsewhere, God is not elsewhere
My word for 2016 is journey, 2015 was a rough road but I am invited to continue on the journey before me
My word is: Be
I want to be in the present.
I want to listen without distractions.
I want to Be.
I found it really difficult to find “my word” this year – not because there was no word, but because there were so many, offering themselves, wanting to be chosen, sparkling and twinkling, shouting “me, me, me!” But one word that kept coming back to me and that is now my word for 2016 is LISTEN.
“Listen” is the first word of the Rule of St. Benedict, which invites the reader to “listen with the ear of the heart”. That is a powerful call in a loud world. I would like to respond to this invitation and make 2016 the year of listening: listening to my heart – for its desires, for the next step, for the way forward; listening to my body and its rhythms and need for rest, which I so often ignore; listening to others, connecting and giving the gift of presence; and listening to another voice that the word God cannot contain or sum up but only point to.
Looking at my life today, it appears at first glance that this year must be a year of difficult decisions and overdue actions. And that is not untrue. But I want to start with listening and hope the right decisions and actions will call to me in the spaciousness of silence.
HOPE is my word for 2016. It seems like a common word but this year “hope” shimmers & rings for me after stepping (hopefully) out of a three year cycle of ill-health & surgeries!
My Word for 2016 is “PONDER”
A few years ago I participated in “The Artists’ Rule” online course and it was life changing. Perseverance, Curiosity and Mercy (Kindness) are my beacons and I ponder these aspects ofmy life every day.
My word is compassion. Compassion for others in their struggles and pain; being receptive to words and acts of kindness and empathy that I may offer. Self-compassion in my journey of chronic illness as well.
stillness
a place of balance in a world of
chaos and fear
stillness
the child’s top which in its
balanced spinning appears to be
standing still but is ever moving
into joy