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 3, 2025 and you are automatically entered for the prize drawing (prizes listed below).
Join our Give Me a Word Self-Study Retreat for guidance and inspiration.
This retreat is designed to help you contemplate what holiness is birthing within your soul. Each day there will be a different practice offered to inspire, challenge, and support you in listening for the word that wants to be spoken to your heart.
The practices are not about resolutions or goal setting, they are not about achieving more in the new year or accomplishing tasks or goals. They are about listening for what is calling to you in a particular season of life. They ask us to trust a greater wisdom at work in the world than our own egos.
Through this retreat, you will be invited to release your thinking mind and enter into a space of receiving.
Learn more here. Use code GMAW20 to take 20% off through December 31st.
WIN A PRIZE – RANDOM DRAWING GIVEAWAY ENTER BY JANUARY 5th!
- One person wins a space in the mini-retreat Holding Paradox: A Retreat with St. Brigid led by Simon de Voil
- Two people win a space in our upcoming A Midwinter God retreat
- Two people win a space each in their choice of Self-Study retreats
- Three people win a Dancing Monk Medallion
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 12th we will announce the prize winners!
201 Responses
My word is resilience
My word this year is Chosen. And song is closer than you know. Lyrics below:
tempered the storm
Though your faith was small
I prayed while you slept
And the night waged war
We stood in the fire
And we walked on sea
And we drank of the wine
That was made of Me
Don’t turn your eyes from Me
For My love won’t be undone
Don’t hide your face from Me
For My light has surely come
Surely come surely come
I carried that cross
And I felt your pain
I took up your crown
And I wore your shame
And death was a fire
And its teeth were grim
But I left it behind
Along with all your sin
Don’t turn away from Me
For My love won’t be undone
Don’t hide your face from Me
For My light has surely come
Surely Come surely come
Lift up your eyes and see
Heaven is closer than you know
Lift up your voice and sing
Know that My love won’t let you go
And I won’t forsake you
Lift up your eyes and see
Heaven is closer than you know
Know I’ll never leave you
So lift up your voice and sing
Know that My love won’t let you go
And My light has surely come
Surely come surely come
And I’m closer than you know
And I’m closer than you know
Lord I hear You I know You’re there
Closer now than my skin and bones could dare
Breathing deep within me
You are always with me
I can see You where eyes can’t stare
Brighter now than the sun could ever dare
Breathing all around me
God I know You’re with me here
Lord I hear You I know You’re there
Closer now than my skin and bones could dare
Breathing deep within me
You are always with me
I can see You where eyes can’t stare
Brighter now than the sun could ever dare
Breathing all around me
God I know that You are here
For I’m Yours and You are mine
And my soul knows well
You are here
You are here
And my soul will praise You
And my soul will praise Your Name
Singing Holy is Your Name
Jesus
Jesus
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Joel Timothy Houston / Matthew Philip Crocker / Michael Guy Chislett
Closer Than You Know lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
The word that found me this year is Contentment. ❤️
My word for 2025 is INTENTION. I chose it because I want to be more aware of the ways I spend my time and energy and how I show up in my relationships, but in looking it up, it also means the closure of a wound ✨
Grateful acceptance of the life given to me as I enter what is possibly the winter of my life.
Couldn’t decide between the words Trust and Enough as they’re both my words for this year. I’ll go with Enough…that implies trusting that I always have enough in all areas of my life.
“curious surrender”
The phrase encapsulates my desire to release control over where I think my life should go and to be curious about where Spirit takes me rather than fearful
My phrase is ‘The spiritual principle of discrimination’
Determining and letting go of all that is unnecessary in order to live simply.
Release.
This winter I want to release the things I need to let go of in order to make space for what is life-giving.
My word for 2025 is Rose. I want to bloom like the lutherian Rose underneath the protection and mercy of our Good Lord Jesus.