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
I cannot remeber if I already posted but mine is MINDFUL SELF CARE
The word that came to me as I was walking two days ago is “yield.” As I pondered the word later, the word “supple” followed the idea of yielding.
Simple Abundance
I have chosen this word because I am inspired, comforted and challenged by the abundance all around me. I want to leave the places where I feel lack in my life and live conscious of the abundance God is giving me everyday.
My word for the year is closure.
My word is Beauty.
To me it means surrounding myself with simple pleasures. This word has already helped me experience daily life in a new and more joyful and grateful way and I look forward to it sustaining me once the busy work year starts.
My word is “Prepare” a reminder to slow down and make myself ready, and to put in a roper state of mind. It came to me when I woke up singing ” Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
My word is “this.” A reminder to be fully present to what is: this moment; this day; this person; this challenge…
My word for 2016 is Courage–to live the truth of one’s heart. Amen! Let it be so!
My word is ‘beauty’. For me this means to surround myself with simple pleasures. I look forward to growing into this word during the year when my busy work life starts.
My word for 2016 is “BLOOM”. Thinking today about what it takes to bloom. About how first there is a seed that must be softened and broken open.