In ancient times, wise men and women fled out into the desert to find a place where they could be fully present to the divine 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, 2022 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, we are 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, December 5th email and at the bottom of each Sunday following).
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ENTER BY JANUARY 6th!
- One space in the Virtual Celtic Pilgrimage: The Wisdom of the Irish Saints Brigid, Ciaran, & Gobnait
- Four people will win their choice of our self-study online retreats (with 18 to choose from!)
- One signed copy of Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
- One signed copy of The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems by Christine Valters Paintner
- One signed copy of Dreaming of Stones: Poems by Christine Valters Paintner
Please share your word with us in the comments below
(and it would be wonderful if you included a sentence about what it means for you)
Subscribe to the Abbey of the Arts newsletter to receive ongoing inspiration in your in-box. You can choose daily, weekly, or monthly. Share the love with others and invite them to participate. Then stay tuned – on January 9th we will announce the prize winners!
79 Responses
Surrender. Surrender to God much like Abraham surrendered his son to the will of God. To be in relationship with God so that trust is no longer a barrier. To surrender worldly anticipation and control, a surrendering of perceived identity to embrace my God given identity.
This has been a most wonderful way to begin a year. For some time I’ve chosen a word but it was more of a random act whereas this has been more deliberative and intentional. My word for 2022 is adventurous. This encapsulates all that I have been feeling over the past two years. And I am interpreting it in the broadest sense of the word…not just launching out into the world, but fearlessly launching inward to fearlessly engage in things I’ve resisted or ignored because of fear of failure or a false sense of selfishness or relegation because of a sense of duty. I am going to be adventurous in pursuing who and I am and, more importantly, who I can be. Thank you for this lovely activity, Christine, and Abbey of the Arts! Namaste, all!
my word for this year is song. To let my life sing a song for Jesus and celebrate His goodness in my life.
My word is artist. As I reflected back over the year, what shimmered to me
was remembering someone asking who the artist was and it was me. I was so excited and then I went home and did little creating. I am my own worst enemy and yet the word artist
pursued me again today. Beyond grateful to have trusted that the word would find me.
My new word/phrase is New Ways, doing new things or doing things differently.
New journeys begin to
Explore what awaits,
Wonderings, and
Wanderings, that
Awaken dormant dreams,
Yielding oneself to
Sacred growth.
My word is hope. Hope that our world can find ways to heal, hope that we can be together again safely with family and friends, hope for God’s healing and comfort to surround a dear friend who is seriously ill. ?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b9140bd159e3325944eb50afb942fdb3aaa1176bebd6cf5e8490c974e3650db8.jpg My words for 2022 are “Live Well”. I choose to live fully, push myself to learn new things and try new experiences, while living mindfully through kindness and compassion.
My word for 2022 is Peace. It’s not peace I understand fully, but God’s peace
The word that chose me for 2022 is “flowing.” As I wait open to God’s new direction for my life, it is fluid…moving with the currents of the water, its ebb and flow. –– Roxie Terhune
Open my heart and hands to RECEIVE
An invitation to allow others to do what I normally rush to take on myself. A reminder to trust that by letting others in, blessings will be RECEIVED by ALL.
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