{"product_id":"give-me-a-word-the-promise-of-an-ancient-practice-to-guide-your-year-paperback","title":"Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eChristine Valters Paintner\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e \"\"An excellent book for readers interested in finding a new meditation technique or nonsectarian spiritual practice or who simply want to slow down and give more depth to their lives.\"\" --\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eYour word is waiting, hovering just beneath the surface. All you need is the quiet courage to listen and receive it.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeginning in around the third century CE, a group of monastics known as the desert mothers and fathers retreated to the deserts of northern Egypt, Syria, and Palestine to pursue lives of silence and prayer. A key phrase, repeated often among the sayings of the desert mothers and fathers, is \"\"Give me a word.\"\" This tradition of asking for a word was a way of seeking something on which to ponder for many days, weeks, months--sometimes a whole lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFast-forward many centuries to the present day, and we find the practice of seeking a word being reclaimed by the spiritually minded in new ways. For nearly two decades, Abbey of the Arts has posted an online invitation to its virtual community before Christmas, inviting people to listen for a word to guide them in the year ahead. Hundreds of participants look forward to the practice each year.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eGive Me a Word\u003c\/i\u003e, spiritual director and poet Christine Valters Paintner offers thirty contemplative and creative practices inviting you to slow down and listen for a word to guide you through the year ahead. Instead of chasing after resolutions, Paintner encourages a more mindful approach--letting go of expectations and becoming open to wisdom from unexpected places.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGive Me a Word\u003c\/i\u003e will gently lead you through the process of receiving your word, testing its resonance, and embracing its meaning. As you reflect on and live by this word, you'll find it offering insight, clarity, and purpose throughout the year. \u003ci\u003eGive Me a Word\u003c\/i\u003e invites you to enter a season of deep listening, inner growth, and spiritual discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 197\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.49 x 7.04 x 5.15 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 16, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51966610276653,"sku":"9798889831266","price":23.38,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/77okIbGjUh9798889831266.webp?v=1775534851","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/give-me-a-word-the-promise-of-an-ancient-practice-to-guide-your-year-paperback","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}