“Good morning Holy Spirit,” and readers. I remember the life season when I woke up every morning acknowledging Holy Spirit — the part of the Triune God that dwells within believers of Jesus Christ — as He was becoming active in my life. It was a way of reminding me what I’ve known all my life, God is with me. At times He might be considered our subconscious, but our subconscious in rebellion will also tell us to do things we shouldn’t. Holy Spirit would never do that. However, I can trace back to times in my life when conviction was standing over my shoulder, and that was the Spirit of God.

As chairman of my high school 45th reunion, I am required to read Facebook. One of our classmates committee members is a lawyer. We have a private committee page to discuss various issues while planning before announcing them to the whole class. Sometimes, the messages get misconstrued. So this legal eagle was sharing wisdom he gained from a respected colleague. Bottom line, how we communicate is an indication of our lives. And if we’re not careful, we can choose a method that miscommunicates our genuine intent. Feelings can be hurt, and more.

Reading is so important. For the early part of my schooling, my focus on reading wasn’t crucial. Too many times I let the practice just slide by, or I faked it — some do that to make it to the next grade level. In doing so, we’re missing the joy of reading that could follow us a lifetime.

I didn’t like reading then. My glasses may have played a part. Eye movement, whatever, but to concentrate I’d have to reread a paragraph or a sentence multiple times, not because I didn’t understand it, but because the words almost seemed to move. It was hard to see them. Often my mother would read with me just to get homework done. Later in life when I moved back to live with her before she died, she read everything in the newspaper and occasionally said, “Vicky you need to start reading the newspaper,” to which I replied, “Why? You tell me everything I need to know. Then I can read those articles that matter to me.”

Now, I write for the newspaper, and when we stopped putting out a Saturday paper, I longed to read one. This happened Monday, too. I’ve gotten in the habit of skimming the daily paper and saving something I want to read for Saturday mornings. Newspapers are considered the dinosaur of the media. And yet, at dinner the other night I was sitting at a table with a newspaper reader and two non-readers. The conversation was interesting to observe.

Several times the reader and I would talk about something going on in the community, informing each other of points we were not fully aware of while the other couple often said, “I didn’t know that,” or “really?” — and of course often said it before I did, “If I/you had a subscription…” To their defense, they stopped the paper because someone else on the street who didn’t have a subscription, too often removed their copy from the driveway before it could be picked up.

Reading letters or cards from friends that care are few and far between in our fast-paced world, but oh what joy to receive. Staying informed can be achieved in many ways — internet, television, radio, gossip that might be right or wrong, social media and more. I’m grateful to my mother and my employer who helped me realize how important reading local newspapers can be to stay informed.

More to the point, reading about the foundation of my life, the Holy Bible, is a requirement for understanding current events and history, life instructions and Godly discipline. Praise God we have his word spoken through the prophets, sent by letters from the Apostles, and His very words recorded for all time. Heavenly Father, what would you like to say to me today? Read.

VICKY BRANTON is Teche Life editor of The Daily Iberian.