Blue skies greet the new year in my part of the UK
Well, a new day and a new year! HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!
I'm not a great one for resolutions - Life tends to get in the way...
But for the past few years, I have taken a short online retreat with Christine at Abbey of the Arts to 'choose' a word for the New Year.
I say 'choose', but usually the word chooses you!
Christine gives different ways to find a word/phrase, and recommends sitting with it for a few days... Sometimes, something you read or hear just strikes you, and it feels right... Other times, you have to sit a while in the quiet and open yourself up to your word...
This year, as I sat with the Nativity story each day throughout December, spending time with the main characters, as often is the case, I identified with Mary...
(Well, 15 years ago I was heavily pregnant with E, who entered the world (eventually!) on 29 December)
... and I pondered the depth of her faith to accept what the angel told her - faith way beyond her tender years...
At first, I thought my word was 'Becoming' - as in becoming a mother, becoming the woman Mary and I are called to be...
But as the days passed, it didn't quite sit right...
Then, one morning, I woke up with these words quietly repeating in my head
BE A VESSEL
And as I sat with this phrase, over the next few days, I realized how many things this could mean...
Yes, Mary as the divine receptacle, showing us how we ALL carry a spark of the Divine within us...
Any bowl, pitcher, cup is a vessel to be filled and emptied, to be USED to feed and quench...
And, of course, a vessel can be a boat, a ship - a floating bowl! - carrying its precious cargo across the seas...
And I know, from past experience, as the days of this new year pass, my word/phrase for the year will unfold and mean many more things...
So, I will leave you on this new day of the new year with some pictures of the beginnings of life I saw on my scooter-walk the other day - clearly, the poor plants don't know it's supposed to be winter!
And our beloved Queen Molly - much calmer today after a rather fraught New Year's Eve full of loud, scary fireworks!!!
And a further link to all the other wonderful words for 2013 over at Abbey of the Arts...
Enjoy!!!
7 comments:
I like this idea very much and find your choice of words fascinating. Have a very happy 2013 setting sail and exploring :)
Sue
How nice to see your name in my inbox! Happy new year to you too and I agree about the word choosing you. I have resisted choosing the last few years but astonished at even loosely choosing something does make a difference. This year "letting go" is unnerving me a bit but as you said, it came to me and so it will play you. I am envious of your plant life - we are buried under more snow that we have seen in years.
Happy New Year to you too! What a wonderful story! The new year is always full of such hope - it's wonderful!
Hi My word came to me through Abbey of the Arts 12 day word retreat as well.I love her workshops and have learned much there. LOVE and happiness to you in the new year.
Lovely inspiring post! Wishing you a happy 2013 filled with continued good health and happiness!
You sent me here from WOYWW and as I have chosen a word too, I just HAD to see what you had written. What a lovely story and meaning to your phrase. I know all about Christmas babies as I too was heavily pregnant 15 yrs ago but mine was extracted on 21st December (nearly a week late!) Anyway I have chosen "Freedom" as I seem to be bound in numerous ways and pray for freedom in Christ. Happy New Year to you BJ#27
Oh now I am at Abbey of the Arts and have signed up and well WOYWW seems to have been forgotten Oops - LOL. Thanks for the link it looks really promising. I was wondering what to get involved with this year but trusted God to direct me and here it is. Thanks again - BJ #27!
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