SHARE YOUR WORD FOR 2018
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 5, 2018 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 – The Wisdom of the Body
- One space in our Lent retreat – Watershed Moments in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
- 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!
433 Responses
Mirabilia. A beautiful, musical word. Reminds me to SEE the miracles in daily life.
I agree. Look for the miracles in life. They are there to behold for those who have eyes to see . . .
My word (or phrase) is “Down the mountain.” I have been doing the hard work of climbing a mountain of discovery over the past 4 years, working towards one of my big life goals – and the end is almost in sight! I have been apprehensive about its completion, wondering whether it’ll feel like one huge anti-climax and wondering what lies beyond the finish. But once I’ve reached the top of my mountain and savoured the view and how far I’ve come, I’m now excited by the picture of weaving down to the valley below at a more contemplative place, looking forward to being replenished before whatever comes next.
Rooted: paying attention to getting more deeply rooted in the VIne of Jesus, and allowing inner transformation to be a foundation for any external service or fruit that comes. This also involves getting to the internal roots of some of my external behaviours I want to trust God to change.
I have been in a cold, dark place for almost a year and a half, and only in November did I begin to thaw. Finally, I am feeling “my normal” again, and a lifting. The word that has chosen me is “Emerge” or “emerging”. Thank you for this wonderful place to rest in spaciousness.
Chantel, I am glad to hear that you are beginning to thaw and emerge from your cold, dark place. May you be filled with light and life, warmth and love as you emerge back into life, and may that life be abundant and fulfilling. Shalom.
Blessings to you Kevin. Thank you your kindness brought tears. I am grateful.
Chantel, you are most welcome. It is wonderful that you are on a journey toward healing and wholeness. May you be surrounded by love and light and may the healing continue. I am sending you love and light and I am sure that many others in this community are sending you positive energy and prayers as well.
This year I want to nurture my creativity. Most of the time it has to wait in line behind everything else in my life. This year it will take priority…. so creativity is my word, my calling, my yearning this year
Hello Kate, I love your word for 2018: creativity. I want to join you in making creativity a priority for this year. In other years I have found time and made time to write poetry, write stories, write in my journal, and do art projects. In 2017, I did not make the time for these creative activities. May 2018 be a year of more creativity and more playfulness for both of us! ;-)
Yes! more creativity and more playfulness – perfect!
May it be so . . .
The word that continues to call my attention is: Create. It seems to respond to every action, mood, inaction or thought by suggesting I “make something” out of it, especially by changing perspective. I’m inspired and challenged by this dictate and yet I am honored to be called to finally show up in this way.
the word that popped in and stayed is “melt.” there are so many ways i am excited to work with it in my bodysoul–body, heart, mind, soul. exciting! thank you for this lovely gift. i really enjoyed “Give Me A Word.”
The word that chose me is “enough.” I am enough and I have had enough. Two expressions that define boundaries.
My word has been with me since the beginning of the fall season. But, I was not certain it was the word. So I let other words come and go. But, this word kept appearing synchronistically. My word is “worthy”.
The word I have received is “wings” – having recently retired, I’m in a new chapter of my life and finding my way forward. So this word does resonate, especially with images like soaring, eagles, angels, “risen with healing in his wings”…. etc. Onward and upward.
My acrostic for today:
Weightless, winging
In the blue airy spaces
Numinous, luminous
Gaining height,
Soaring, rising, yearning, flying……
I love your poem. May you be carried on the wings of eagles and angels this year, Perhaps you will grow your own set of wings as well. Happy flying!