SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2017
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, 2017 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 the Sunday email).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ON JANUARY 6TH!
We are delighted to offer some wonderful gifts from the Abbey:
- One space in our upcoming New Year’s online retreat – Spiraling Inward: Seven Celtic Spiritual Practices
- One signed copy each of Illuminating the Way, Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, The Artist’s Rule, and Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire.
- One space in our online program Sacred Seasons: A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
- 4 people will win their choice of our self-study online retreats
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!
316 Responses
My word for 2017 is “confidence”. My word for 2016 was “surrender”, which led me to to accept my call to ministry. Now I am being called to prepare for ministry with “confidence”. Confidence in God’s sovereign will, confidence in God’s faithfulness, confidence in God’s love for me, and confidence in my ability to be obedient and follow. Its going to be a great year!
My word for 2017 is “acceptance”. It has been a very tough year since I separated from my husband of 39 years thirteen months ago. I have finished the Abbey’s exercises and keep coming back to the same word . . . even before I started the course. Because this year has been so tough, I have often had to remind myself to “let it go”. My life is taking a totally different path which now feels as though it is off my choosing. But in order to move on, I need to forgive and “accept” that my choices up to now have been for a reason. I also find myself relaxing internally if I use the word “acceptance” as a mantra when I start to feel overreactive about something. I want to accept that not everyone will think as I do, act as I wish or find their paths as easily as I’d hope. So . . . my word for 2017 is “acceptance”. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1d792c4d4716aaa23b5f9f78a69bc41f8d1a5c74fb9d955022e19861c2c3543f.jpg
My word is BLOSSOM. Last year I was planted in a new area of the country; now possibilities for growth and fruit, for beautiful opening.
SPARKLE.
BOLD. This word chose me and I’m ready.
My word is “Thanksgiving”. I was sitting in Daily Mass during Advent and the reading that day was of the Magnificat, a prayer that I pray regularly in fact I read the Gospel earlier in the morning. However when I heard “my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” I just knew in 2017 I want to rejoice in God my Savior, and to have my soul magnify the Lord. The best way I see to do that is with thanksgiving, tuning my heart to sing His praise.
My word is Connect. Everyone wants and needs to belong but not all feel that we already are connected with one another through Christ. I want to feel the connection more deeply myself and help others feel it also so that they do not feel lonely or alone.
More a phrase than word. ” Creative image conspiring vision.” Theme of my poetry this holiday season. Inspired by many images of Madonna and child. Mercy’s bosom, womb of Grace. Seeing the divine child in one embrace through the eyes of the other.
My word for 2017 is “dream”….I have always been too afraid to dream, I guess deep inside I thought I was setting myself up for failure! However this is the year I am daring to DREAM….
My word is ready. I’ve been getting ready my whole life. This is the year; now is the time. I am ready.