Several of my current writing projects touch on a similar theme: brotherhood.

Or at least that is how I, ironically a hyper-skinny, middle class white girl, would term it.

The word “brotherhood” conjures up more than just a dictionary definition … for me.

It provokes a feeling of deep camaraderie, and automatically sets off a daydreamed mashup of real life and movie-esque displays of allegiance (think secret societies, Musketeers, grass roots revolutionaries, disciples).

The term brotherhood, almost by itself, seems to infer something I believe: that people can transcend norms and develop deep and purposeful bonds that stir goodness in the world.

But, there are some downsides to this specific word, which advisers keep alerting me to in hand-scribbled notes in the margins.

Even though I have always read “brotherhood” in a very universal way, seeing myself and other women as easily fitting underneath it’s umbrella, there is probably a better term than would more intentionally include women.

And then there’s the fact that the word brotherhood has been hijacked and pasted on all kinds of social and political movements. Thus, the word may trigger people to think about specific agendas or positions, which my writing is not pushing.

And so people throw out recommendations… synonyms–words like friendship and community–and I struggle over each of them, trying to decide whether it holds the same romance and imagery as knights sworn in allegiance to a king…as people intimately connecting over cause and family.

And I’m having a hard time finding an alternative term that fits as incredibly into the metaphor of spiritual brotherhood that I see in the language of Jesus, the disciple John, or the apostle Paul. Daughter, your faith has made you well. Adopted heirs with Christ. Anyone who hates his brother…

And it leads me to ask this question, what term best inspires you to feelings of brotherhood?

I would love to hear your opinion if you would click the comment link and offer a few ideas.

I’ve been holed away in my office, sipping Keurig Chai, reading books, and mapping out possibility for 2012.

… And traveling.

Outside of Coach Cunningham and the Emperor, my suitcase has been my closest companion the last 30-days. (Don’t fear. It’s a very good suitcase.)

This is part of my hibernation, as a writer and a leader. Part of my yearly rhythm. Akin to a sabbatical or…on my less balanced days,  a self-induced coma.

(Just push something caffeinated into my hand as I stand on the moving sidewalk or slip something chocolate under the office door from time to time, please.)

And it is why–like last year–my blog, Facebook page, and Twitter feeds become nostalgic little ghost towns every end of December. Why the idealistic musings dry up. And the witty twitter jabs freeze over. And I wait until I feel good and ready, fresh and expectant of the months to come, before I join the blogging scene again.

It’s part of my commitment to people, health and the local world real-as-day outside my front door.

This year, my break stretched into an extended couple weeks of sweet traveling-and-writing delirium. Since December 25th, I’ve been to Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Mexico, DC, and North Carolina and, yes, to the small cinnamon colored office where I sheltered in between.

The hibernation has brought many new stirrings. Some expected; some unexpected. Some wanted; some not. Some blow-me-away grateful, some incredibly disappointing. (Life is always a mix of take it or leave its, don’t you think?) But in the end, I arrive here (three-and-a-half-weeks late) to 2012 with a building sense of anticipation growing inside of me.

People don’t climb mountains to hear me weigh in on spiritual discernment, as I’ve never heard God’s audible voice or even–less prestigiously–had the Holy Spirit spell out a next step in my cheerios. But I’ve also never been able to ignore the thick presence of new momentum swirling in and around my life. 

I enter 2012 reflective of how life is always changing, impressed to know God in any and all the ways He is willing to reveal himself to me, and confident that His favor holds good as we seek to serve and live peaceably with all men (and women).

Happy late New Year, my friends. Please stop in for ongoing resources on writing, brotherhood and people coming together to do good things.

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