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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. My word for the year is LISTEN. I have spent too many years being the one who does the talking and telling. Now is my time for listening to my life and see what it is trying to tell me.

  2. Greetings fellow Pilgrims,
    The word that is circling my heart this new year is “EMERGE”. While there are many words that are tempting, EMERGE seems to draw out many emotions from my inner self.
    It is both powerful and soft, like an eruption of a geyser to the unfolding of petals on a rose. Within it is all the unknown, yet safely grounded in its natural course. Thank you for allowing me to share with you the new year of spiritual wisdom. ~ Anne

  3. Stillness

    Sitting in stillness in monk’s cell
    Quietly listening for the heartbeat
    Of the world.

  4. My word for 2016 Humility

    I chewed on this word “Humility” for several days
    but could not let it go,
    it came back each day, caused me to ponder
    and search within me
    examine my walk with the Lord

    I had forgotten that without humility, I would be unteachable
    I would not bend like a pine tree, flow with the wind
    enjoy and delight in the breeze,
    Look at the world thru’ the eyes of a child
    with all its innocence, in wonder and excitement
    enjoying the surprises along the way
    Appreciating what new things the Lord
    was doing in my life, and just being grateful…

    Humility

  5. my word is listen. I am being called to sit in the vastness of silence and listen to my soul , to reconcile with my soul and to hear and feel wordless love.