The representative word of this epidemic year

Interview, arrangement/Liao Meihui

Looking back on the special year 2020, it was an earth-shaking year and a year that changed the lives of many people. Pastor Su Wen'an, the editor-in-chief of this magazine, invited the co-workers to use one word to represent how to get through 2020 at KRC's co-workers' prayer meeting.

The representative word of 2020 is "epidemic"

Since 2008, Lianhe Daily has imitated Japan's "Chinese Characters of the Year" and solicits votes from Taiwanese people at the end of each year to select a representative character, aiming to express Taiwan's social and spiritual landscape that year.

There is no doubt that the representative word for 2020 is "epidemic". Because of the new coronavirus, the "epidemic" has become out of control. In the past year, the word "epidemic" has always been in the headlines. The number of epidemics, the severity of the epidemic, stories about fighting the epidemic, and vaccine development...the word "epidemic" is lined up and performed every day. I believe that in the first half of 2021, the epidemic (vaccine) will still be the focus of people's discussion.

There must be some people who choose to "pause". After all, since the beginning of the epidemic, the world has pressed the "pause" button one after another. Planes have been grounded, schools have been closed, restaurants have been closed, people have stopped going out, institutions and churches have also stopped opening, and they have switched to working from home and gathering in the cloud.

▲There is no doubt that the representative word for 2020 is: "epidemic".

What "Quit" taught me

As for my personal representative word of the year, it is "retire".

Due to the epidemic, students in the kindergarten I opened in mid-March "dropped out" of school; in early May, the original plan for a family of four to go to Spain to walk the "Camino de Santiago" (Camino de Santiago) also "cancelled" tickets; In mid-June, it was reported that my mother-in-law's dementia had deteriorated so severely that she could not distinguish between day and night. A month later, she passed away peacefully in her arms. In October, my husband was attacked because he did not want to return to the United States from Taiwan in time. The boss resigned and started to join the "retirement" group; Internet fees increased sharply in December. In anger, he wanted to cancel the Internet at home. He tried to "quit" Wi-Fi and quit social media. How it will be.

There is an idiom "If you don't advance, you will retreat." The word "retreat" does not seem to be too positive, nor is it a popular word. Canceling, dropping out of school, regressing, quitting, quitting, retiring...but I believe that "retiring" can still teach us many valuable lessons!

When the word "retreat" is mentioned in the Bible, what does it bring to mind?

Luke 5:15-16, "But the fame of Jesus spread more and more. Large crowds gathered to hear the message and to be healed of their illnesses. But Jesus withdrew into the wilderness to pray." Jesus was not famous at all. They get carried away and take advantage of the victory to attack, but instead retreat into the wilderness to pray.

At many critical moments in the New Testament, the important action Jesus took was to "withdraw" from the crowd and go to pray alone. For example, Luke 6:12-13, before choosing the 12 disciples, “Jesus went out and went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night; and when it was daybreak, he called his disciples, and he chose twelve from among them, and he called them Apostle." Jesus withdrew to a place free from distractions in order to concentrate on prayer.

There is another example of “withdrawal”, after the miracle of five loaves and two fishes, Matthew 14:22-23, “Immediately Jesus urged his disciples to get into the boat and cross over to the other side first, while he sent the crowd away. After sending the crowd away, he went up to the mountain to pray alone."

The most classic is Matthew Chapter 26 Verse 36, "When Jesus came with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, he said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray." Obviously. Jesus wanted to withdraw to a deserted place and pray alone. Because He knows that the critical moment is coming.

In the past, the church held retreats every year, in which "retirement" was the key. Retreating can help us leave the familiar environment, let go of our tired body and mind, rest quietly, and talk to ourselves and God.

Retreating can emit a transformative power. Jesus’ withdrawal was not a withdrawal, but a deeper union with God. Retreating is the first step in practicing solitude and silence. Retreating does not necessarily mean living in isolation, but a state of mind and heart, remaining in a deep inner silence.

My respected spiritual mentor, Father Henri Nouwen, said, "Retreat and solitude are not a place for private healing. On the contrary, it is a place of repentance, a place where the old self dies and the new self is born..."

Thank you for the lessons "retire" taught me: it allowed me to still experience God's peace in an uneasy world, allowed me to truly face my own weaknesses and the road ahead, and allowed me to bravely accept early retirement and embrace the new season of life in 2021. is coming!

KRC colleagues share the representative words of the year

The representative word of the year chosen by founder Gao Li is "An", 2020 is her rest year, and she feels peaceful and content. 2020 is the only year in 40 years that she has not flown at all. She expressed that she felt calm and stable this year and was grateful that her parents were healthy and safe.

Editor-in-chief Su Wen'an chose the representative word "Uncertainty" (uncertainty), he summarized his experience in 2020 with "uncertainty in certainty" and "certainty in uncertainty". Despite all the uncertainties, focus on God’s sure promises.

Marriage counseling expert Mr. Guo Yuandi’s representative name is "Blessing" (blessed). He celebrated his 80th birthday on December 1, 2020, and December 20 was his 50th golden wedding anniversary. He thanked God for all the grace and blessings he had bestowed in 2020. It has been 54 years since Mr. Guo came to the United States to study in 1966. The Guo family has grown from just one person in the United States to 11 people today, the most precious of whom are five grandchildren. He encouraged himself to "still bear fruit in old age; to be full of juice and evergreen..." (Refer to Psalm 92)

Lin Minwen, special editor of "Kingdom of God", writes "super style"為代表詞。2020年應該是受限制的一年，居家令下，人必須待在屋子裡；Zoom聚會時，人也在框框裡。然而對她來說，這卻是一個「超格」—「超出格子之外」的一年。敏雯喜歡計畫未來，凡事按部就班。早在一年多前，就開始禱告、想像，2020年下半進入空巢後，生活、服事該會有多大的自由。雖和原先的期待不同，空巢期往後挪了一挪，對她而言，卻是賺到了的感覺。原本要上大學的女兒改為線上上課，多待的這一年，讓親子間多了很多的談話、說笑。這成了美好的回憶。

Minwen said, “Even though I was ‘retreating’ at home, due to some unexpected services, I gained a broader perspective on God’s work in different regions and at different levels, and I also broke through the boxes I had set for myself in the past. "2020 is indeed an "extraordinary" year. There are too many things that were not planned and unexpected. But God showed her that there was another world outside the grid.

Zhou Lanhui, the editorial consultant of this magazine, chose "not easy". In March 2020, Lan Hui became seriously ill and saved her life from death. She said that her painting and teaching methods have changed due to the epidemic, and she has to learn online and cloud technology. One day, a sister who was born in the ninth generation said to her: "Sister Lan Hui, it's not easy, you have to learn so many new things!" Lan Hui, who was humorous, replied to the sister who was born in ninth grade: "It's not easy for you either. Because you want to teach me...”

Zheng Qiongyu, editor of the "Kingdom Neighbors" section of this magazine, the word for gratitude is "companion". In 2020, we experienced the epidemic of the century, my mother was seriously ill, my son suffered a serious leg injury, several respected members of the Lord suddenly passed away from illness, and my son’s teacher’s newly grown child suddenly passed away... Everything happened suddenly, and there is no trace of what happened before.

During countless moments of worry, anxiety, and sadness, Qiong Yu was grateful that she could turn to Heavenly Father and talk to Him, knowing that Heavenly Father was watching over and “accompanying” her. Unexpected events one after another remind Qiong Yu again how fragile people are. Every moment is a gift. We should be grateful and live a good life in the company of our Heavenly Father.

"One night in mid-July, my son was in pain and couldn't sleep. I stayed by his side, looked at the night sky, and amid the soft worship music, prayed until the sky turned from black to dark blue, dark orange, light orange, light blue, and sunshine. I feel that Heavenly Father is always by my side. That sacred time of Heavenly Father’s loving presence will always be deeply imprinted in my heart.”

The executive editor of this magazine Wu Xinhui’s representative word of the year is "traditional". She wrote: "In the year of the epidemic in 2020, many things came to a halt, but I was busy with the complicated things. In 2020, I sent two dear friends home, traveled long distances to help my daughter move, and my son got married. A family of six was at home. Adjustments to work, the escalation of the epidemic, the US election, etc., my body, mind, and soul are like a sauna, and I can only seek safety in God.

Editing magazines has become the "unity" and the refuge of the soul in this "epidemic" year. Good "complex" articles become nourishment for the soul. God is present in "complicated" things, and our benefits are not outside of God. So I give thanks for the "complicated" things! "

Angel Ho, secretary-general of the Taiwan Kingdom Resources for Christ Association, said: “My representative word is ‘stability’., due to the epidemic, the original plan was changed, but the ministry has increased much more than before, and sometimes I wish I had only three heads and six arms. But if you still get close to the Lord and listen to God’s words when you are busy, you will have the ability and courage to face it, and you will gain wisdom to handle your busy work. ” Just like Jesus holding Angel’s hand, even though his feet are in strong winds and waves, he still has the stability of God’s presence!