When I was young, communion used to scare me. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (I Cor 11:27) I used to stress about confessing my sins so I would be worthy to take communion. I don’t know what I expected would happen if I wasn’t worthy, but I didn’t want to find out.

As I got older, I began to associate communion with the crucifixion. Any description of the torture of being crucified made me ill. I took communion with a heart full of guilt and pain that Jesus had to suffer that for me.

But today, I take communion with joy. I associate it with Christmas and Easter. It is the reminder of God’s great plan to unite me with Him for eternity. I know about the suffering, but I choose to not dwell on it. The bread and the juice (in my church it’s juice) are elements of salvation and life. It makes me happy because I know that my life in Christ is secure and I can actually have a relationship with God because of His sacrifice. It was not a sacrifice in vain. Because of it, I am reborn and full of destiny. Communion is an act of celebration and gratitude.