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 is RESTORATION. This for me is a new beginning. Just like in Joel when God promised to Restore the Years that the Locusts have eaten. Joel2:25. This for me is a year of new beginnings. But, isn’t it strange how I needed the locusts to clear the way? Stripped of everything – just like being in the dessert where only you and God exist. This threshold into the dessert is a tough decision. But God is asking me to trust him. At the beginning of the year my wife and I are hopefully moving house. This is one sign of a new beginning. Downsizing is challenging as I have to get rid of old things I no longer need/require. This also relates to books I bought for what I believe God was calling me into such as Deacon Ministry. I have given all away as this door was closed by others (mainly priests) but not my spiritual director. Who knows, God is able to open the door they closed! Lets see what this new year brings. So grateful to Christine and John for their love and ministry. Also many other friends on this site too. Love to you all.
This sounds deeply hopeful, Kevin, I am sorry that a door you wanted open was closed – this happened to my other half when he went for ministry too – it is so painful, I hope that this coming year will be one that sees so many blessings and new ways forward that the Lord has made for you both.
My son was in the restoration business; refinishing antiques to bring out their beauty that may have been tarnished (by others). I was touched by your sharing. May you be made renewably lovely this year, for all to see your worthiness for whatever God calls you to be.
I have been struck this Advent season with the call to Prepare ye the way, and in the on-line Abby Advent class to prepare for the Sabbath and it came to me that my word for 2017 is Prepare. I was Pilgriming in 2016 and now it appears I need to be more intentional and prepare.
My word is NOTICE… I am in a desert walk right now and need many ammas and abbas to be present with me as I watch, observe, listen and notice what is stirring. So grateful to Christine and all of you for being there.
My word is anticipate. This is an unexpected word for me but there is much transition going on in the next 12 months. I anticipate it in a mindful way. I wait in “joyful hope”, as we pray in Advent! The word is evoking for me a sense of watching, waiting and stepping off the threshold into the new, knowing God’s presence in all.
Labyrinth is my word. Life is a labyrinth not a maze. This is truly comforting to know!
This morning, i chose humility…it seemed like it was lacking in my life these weeks of advent….however the word :INVITATION’ came across my lap just now as resonates so powerfully within my fibers. Invitation. offering one and listening for one. being open to hope and kindness of being invited and inviting others.
My word(s) is “Practice Restraint.” I am working with remembering a pause of silence before I speak or act, especially since the habit to respond immediately is so ingrained in me.
My word is “Awake” or “Awaken” – I want to stay awake for longer periods. To meditate on what it means to be awake (in the moment).
humility. to hear. to reflect. to acknowledge my validation as a child of god as everyone else. to drop power and negotiation. to lay down the sword. to soften. to listen. to observe. to pray. to speak with grand intention that my year ahead know this grace of humility.
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My word is “rooted”. I picture myself as a tree planted near the waters drinking everything flowing from the Sacred Three-in-One.