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 EXPECTANT. I want to live in an holy expectation of what God is doing in me , through me,around me. As women, we are all a bit like little Mary’s, with God giving birth though us in many miraculous ways. I want to have eyes for holy noticing. We must expect to see if we are going to see.
My word for 2016 is ‘Allow’ This is the third year I am doing this. My first in 2014 was receive, then 2015 know……I am still working on those words and they bring to my attention that I must ALLOW myself to receive, and even though deep in my being I know something I have to allow myself to embrace, embody, accept, the knowing.
Also part of allowing is giving. After receiving and knowing, I feel that by embracing and sharing I can give back or away in order to refill, recharge and receive again.
Thank you!!
My word is Strength, remembering that although I can’t feel it, it is huge and wizened and “in there” and it guides me and supports my most authentic and powerful self.
My word for the year is ‘reverence’ – seemed to take a while for the word to come forth but a variety of avenues provided me with the word – I will seek to revere all in creation and in humanity – with intentional engagement with creation and my fellow human beings by being present and listening.
Blessings to all on this Epiphany Day! May the Waters of Baptism nourish all of us!
The words weight and wait are playing together…”weighing the cost of waiting” is a phrase that returns again and again. Last year’s word, “keepsake” played with “kept safe” all during the year. I am curious ~ and delighted ~ that my playful Jesus has again chosen word play with me! It also feels holy that I was invited to these Abbey of the Arts exercises this year by a friend as I waited upon the word for 2016. Thank you for your care.
My word is “fulfilment” – I am at place of transition as i retire from ordained vocational ministry and enter a new chapter on my journey!
My word for this year is, “Wordless” , the mysteries and sorrows of life are beyond the words. I nee d to be silent more and express myself more in wordless ways such as painting.
My word is Threshold;;;;; is it because this is today’s title and my brain is too full or tired to find another? or is it because this is a perfect word as I stand on the edge of this new year and long to enter something new and big and delightful. I’ve been doing some other soul exploration and this word speaks beautiful to that quest too — it stands as invitation, beckoning me forward. It stands as encouragement and possibility. It stands as openness and wonder for what is even now on its way… what I am even now on my way toward…
Threshold. Here I stand.
My word is definitely “joy”.
I have come to realize that I stop myself short…in situations and relationships…from stepping into the fullness of joy. I’m aware…now I lean into a new practice this year…running towards joy!
Accept. It took me a long time to realize this is my word this year.