Journaling: A Holy Experience
Twitter, Facebook, blogs, text messages. There’s lots of options for communicating these days. But there’s one I still like best: journaling.
Pen on paper. A beautiful book, blank and waiting to be filled with thoughts and memories. I love the anticipation of picking a new book to be my journal and wondering what moments I’ll choose to record in it. I love the texture of the paper, the meditative process of writing by hand.
I guess I’ve always been obsessed with journals because I’ve always been obsessed with writing. I remember when I was young sitting on a porch swing in Tennessee at the end of the day, dictating to my mom as she wrote my words down in my “journal.” My mom had me do that as a way to help me learn how to write for myself.
My first journal was a Little House on the Prairie journal with quotes and pictures from the books interspersed throughout it’s pages. I remember the thrill of having my first real journal. Over the years I’ve had some journals designated for quotes I discovered, devotions, or my daily life. Now I just keep one that holds everything: any recording of daily life, plus my time spent with the Lord in the morning.
Over at Holy Experience there’s been a fabulous series on journaling. What the author describes as her process of spiritual journaling is pretty much the same that I do each morning, curled up on the couch, coffee on the table nearby.
Do you journal? If so, what do you record in yours? Why don’t you take a photo of your journal and come back here and leave a comment telling us where to find it . . .
Gosh, Danielle – I probably filled ten journals over the space of three years or so between leaving home and marrying Pete! I just don’t have anything to write there anymore! I think the blank pages intimidate me; I want what I write there to be meaningful, something I won’t read later and think, “WHAT was I thinking??? That sounds so pretentious!” I think it is good for me, though, because it is bringing God off paper for me and into the realm of reality. I suspect I may start journaling again sometime, but for now, I guess I’ll be content with missing it until it opens up for me again!
Love the bottom photo, btw – beautiful dof!
I don’t keep a journal. I used to years ago. But I just had to leave a comment saying that I love your handwriting, Danielle. It makes journaling “artistic” and “pretty.” My handwriting is just plain messy.
Love to journal…haven’t done it in awhile and I miss how it helps me sort out my thoughts. When I am in the routine of journaling, I often write down my prayers and thoughts about what I am reading devotionally. Even a few sentences helps me to remember it enough to reflect on it throughout the day.
I too love the blank page, the smell, the texture, the way my handwriting varies from day to day…
You’re a kindred spirit Danielle…
)
Thanks for sharing! That’s funny you mention my handwriting, Ashleigh. I’ve actually never liked mine too much. But it’s interesting because like Krista said, it various from day to day. I think it’s interesting as to why. I don’t know why, exactly. Maybe it depends on the pen or how I feel that day.
My handwriting changes with the day as well…that is funny!
LOVE your photos and thoughts here….I’m REALLY bad at keeping a consistant journal. I’ve never been good at it, but I have been trying to be better about keeping a journal for all our boys.
I do keep a small journal of my daily Bible reading, but your post inspires me to start journaling again, just for the fun of it…
Thanks!
I’ve been following Ann’s series on journaling, and that’s how I ended up here. So glad I did! You can find a photo of my journal here: http://jumpingtandem-ne.blogspot.com/2009/06/journaling.html