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: Gather. For some time I have felt God calling me to start a church, a church that views all life – human, animal, plant – as sacred and loved by God. We will gather outdoors in the magnificent cathedral of nature where God’s glory and creativity is on display.
My word for 2017 is SHARE which Steven Hawkings recommended recently in an essay regarding the severe divide among classes of people in society. Sharing my time and talents this coming year. Starting with offering home space for some traveling thespians for the Tucson Fringe Festival.
My word for 2017 is ACCEPTANCE. I want to come back to this word when life is presenting challenges as a reminder that ‘it is what it is’, it is temporary, and I can accept while also allowing myself to feel the feelings without judging them (or myself). I especially want to use this word in those situations where I really have NO control (a loved one making poor decisions, for example). I appreciate the call to find a word that resonates with me, and appreciate Abbey of the Arts for enriching my life.
My word came to me while driving to work. It actually chose me and I laughed out loud! SLOW…..as in slow down. I practiced slowing down throughout the day. Oh, my…..2017 will be a wrestling match but a worthy journey.
To Trust.
Stay in” The Presence ” and the present .
Stop fast forwardinginto future and reviewing past storyline.
My word for the year is HEART. I’m not yet sure what this will mean for me. I actually found the 2016 mini-retreat in November, so I signed up & used that to find my 2017 word. Throughout, I kept feeling drawn to the word Heart, but I was uncertain. Then I got to the day that began with the words, “If you haven’t yet found your word, take heart…” It seemed like a true sign, so I took “heart” as my word for the year. I have started doing Lectio Divina with scripture verses that include the word heart. What are some of your favorite “heart” passages? Or other readings, poems or quotes with the word “heart” in them?
My word for 2017 is ‘Enough’. It certainly chose me… I didn’t want it! But on reflection it is just right. It already means a challenge: “That’s enough… food, coffee..” And it is also encouraging: “You’ve done enough… you are enough…” I’m sure throughout the year there will be many more challenges and encouragements!
My word is BELIEVE ??
My phrase is “Mystery, unfolding”. These words have been in the back of my mind for many years, and is actually the name I chose for my blog. While the words have been hovering, I’ve been feeling a strong call to live in a little more silence this year, a little more unknowing and a little more trust. Trust and surrender are NOT my favorite words! But. . . . I can move into “a little more”.
My word for 2017 is ENOUGH. 2015 was Fearless and 2016 was Wild Hope and both were part of pulling me out of myself and engaging more generously with the world. For 2017, however, I feel the journey is about acceptance and contentment in the face of loss and longing. This will also be a year of major production in my work life and I know I’ll need to practice laying aside my perfectionism. I find Enough to be challenging, stretching, but also a bit hopeful.
I notice we have the same word! We are companions on the ‘enough’ journey!
Fearless chose me for 2017! So nice not to be alone in my fear?