A Word about Communion

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by Rebecca DeMarino

Like many writers I’ve been choosing a “word for the year” for a few years now. Sometimes the word chooses me. It will be the word I meditate on, pray about and try to include in a conversation throughout the year. Ideally, I would do these things every day. But to be honest I have to remind myself. The past two years I’ve kept a sliver of a sticky note at the top of my computer. For 2013 it reads: Communion.

During the week between Christmas and New Year, with the last ginger cookie eaten and the last bits of wrapping paper recycled, I like to ponder the past year, look forward to the new and muse over the traditional resolutions. Somewhere in that jumble of thoughts a word for the next year might tumble out.

Last year, when “communion” kept bouncing in my brain, I wondered how that could be my “word”. Surely, it wasn’t. It was too obvious. I already took communion at my church, and I prayed. But there it was. On January 1st I wrote it down without too much sense as to the way it might impact my life.
2013 WORD COMMUNION
The next morning I settled at my desk and turned on my computer. The little pink strip caught my attention as my PC warmed up. “Communion.” My gaze drifted to the window and navy blue sky beyond, alive with stars. I knew the sunrise would soon cast a pink glow on the snow-clad mountain. And I thought about how drinking in the beauty of God’s creation leads me into communion with Him.

The following week, Steve Laube wrote a post about a little book, Acceptable Words: Prayers for the Writer, by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney. Mr. Laube recommended it as a book for the year, a “book that should be examined slowly and without haste.” Communion came to mind. I’d not been in the habit of a daily devotional read, but that was certainly an important part of communing with God. I ordered the book, and love how it ties in communion with my writing.

As the year progressed, I was amazed at how the word communion expanded for me. Family gatherings and writer’s workshops or conferences where I could gather with those of like-mind took on a new importance, as well as-and to my surprise-social media.

http://etymonline.com , a great writing tool-especially for historical novels, says this about communion: “fellowship, mutual participation, a sharing.” That sounds like Facebook-or insert Google+, Twitter, or Goodreads-to me!

Did you have a word for the year? Where did it lead you? I don’t know my word for 2014 yet, but I do plan to carry communion with me into next year. And the book I’ll use for my devotional, as I have communion with God through His Word and prayer, is Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by S. Young-recommended to me by . . . a Facebook friend!

Rebecca DemarinoRebecca DeMarino lives in the Pacific NW and enjoys jogging, baking, genealogy and gardening. Her debut novel, A Place in His Heart, is book one of The Southold Chronicles, and releases from Revell in June, 2014. She would love for you to contact her at www.rebeccademarino.com or https://www.facebook.com/authorrebeccademarino.

Comments 0

  1. My word for 2013 was reckless, based on the Jeremy Camp song about reckless faith. It was an amazing year! My word for 2014 is inscribed, from Isaiah 49:15-16. I also plan on reading through Jesus Calling this year (again). It’s one of my favorites!

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