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 “illumine.” It popped into my head a few days after beginning the “Give Me a Word” series. It came so easily and spontaneously that I felt the need to test it and allow it to ripen in my heart and mind before announcing that “illumine” had claimed me.
What is a bit startling to me, however, is the deep sense I feel that “illumine” is calling me to be both student and teacher at this point in my spiritual journey. I am comfortable in the role of “student,” and enjoy exploring, learning about and applying new spiritual practices to help deepen my connection to the sacred and the world. I am extremely uncomfortable and resistive, however, about assuming the role of a “spiritual teacher.” Spirituality, in all its facets, is, for me, such a private matter that I only speak of it with those I truly trust. I even shred my daily journaling as soon as I’ve finished reflecting on whatever has flowed from my pen to the paper that day.
It will be interesting to see how the passive/active duality of “illumine” plays out in my life over the next twelve months.
The word I choose a word to hold close to my heart in the coming year is ‘presence’. May I be present to what is in front of me. May I not turn away. May I keep my feet touching the ground. May I pause to breathe. May I see. Here and now.
SOAR — hawks soaring circles over the landscape – external and internal
I have chosen the word “Blossoming.” The past year has been filled with indecision, upheaval, and unease about the future. As I appear to be in a “desert” time of my life, I am reminded that beauty springs forth from the driest land. I trust God will be with me in 2017; that my soul will learn new songs, and I will stand strong in the desert wind, and blossom as God intends.
Beannacht
It means blessing and is the name of my favorite poem from John O’Donohue which I recite and think about several times a day. I have listened to him recite it so often that I hear his voice saying it at any given moment.
Silence…
not in the wind… not in the earthquake, and… not in the fire, but in a sound of sheer silence. (I Kings 19:11,12)
It was not easy to find my word for 2017.
Climb? Allow? Ask?
Circling around and around these three words.
But finally the deep knowing, that the word needs to be ASK.
I need to learn to ask…….for direction…. for wisdom….. for help…..
it’s time to leave behind the ” I can do it all by myself” !
I chosen the Hebrew word chesed, which translates most closely to the English word “lovingkindness”. For me this word embodies the quality of God’s fierce and tender love toward me, toward all of humanity. It also challenges me to bless others with this same love, to be as full an incarnation of this love in all my words and actions as I’m able It’s more than word; its a window into the mystery of the grace in which we are all forever embraced.
S. Sanctify this Place of Presence;
A. Anoint with Love this Holy Ground.
C. Crave the Light, Embrace the Darkness
R. Render Consecration’s Sound.
O. Overcome all Hate and Sorrow.
S. Stay our Panic and our Fear.
A. Allow us to Embrace our Limits
N. Now Invite You to be Near.
C. Crucifixion Yields to Triumph
T. Treasuring This Holy Sphere.
Hope. Trust which anticipates.