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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. Surrender

    See,
    Understand, and
    Release.
    Rejoice,
    Especially
    Now.
    Divine
    Enrichment
    Realized.

    Surrender is a word that I have atruggled with. When it appeared this time, I was (and am) curious. What can I learn by tossing around this word for an entire year?

    What have I learned in the few days since it appeared? For me, there is a lot of acceptance in the word surrender. Accepting what is but not necessarily how it is. To let go. Freedom and release.

    The acrostic was a great way to explore the word! More to be uncovered, I”m sure.

  2. My word today is “Wisdom”.
    O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
    And order all things, far and nigh;
    To us the path of knowledge show,
    And cause us in her ways to go.
    Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel
    Shall come to the, O Israel.

    My husband are in transition, involving heLth issues, sale of our home and relocation. There has been much loss but we are alert and waiting for “the path of knowledge” to show,

  3. My word for 216 is adventure. I’ve taken a break from the practice of law to teach yoga and attend massage school. I’m both excited and nervous about what the universe has in store for me.

  4. My Word for the year…..CREATE….beauty, health, stability, connection, art, vitality, openings, joy! To create requires curiosity, active participation, personal responsibility, noticing, imagination, taking what I have, even if not ideal, and making something more of it that is life-giving, supportive, and congruent with my soul’s deep longings.

  5. I retract my word, reciprocity, it came from my mind. Instead I choose, fathom, as in Mark Twain fathoming the river of Tao.

  6. My word that has came to me is Rest, I had such a bad last year emotionally that I feel the universe right now is telling me to slow down and rest a little bit.
    It hit me today as I was looking out the window and seen a wild rabbit that lives in my yard. ( The rabbit is one of my chakra’s) so I feel that is what I am
    supposed to do this year.

  7. My word is mercy.It is pope Francis’ word for 2016. May the door of my heart and that of the world be open to receive and offer forgiveness. Thomas Merton’s words from the signs of Jonas are apt:God is “mercy within mercy within mercy”