Comments on: Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline (Part 3)

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:16:14 +0000

Bill,Thanks very much! I wish the same to you and your family. Good to hear from you.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:22:42 +0000

This is definitely off-topic. But I wanted to take a moment to say I hope you are having a great Fourth of July with family and friends!May God’s richest blessings be yours,-bill

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:18:15 +0000

Rusty,Good observation. Journaling can certainly help to keep a person focused on the need to be attentive to God.You mentioned that at times you had nothing to write and later realized the need to deal with something. At times, I have nothing to write and it bothers me. I realize that I may be taking myself too seriously. At times I need to just enjoy the day and that it is OK to be alive before God even when my brain seems to be stuck in neutral.

By: Jim Martin

Jim Martin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:08:56 +0000

Gail,I’m glad this was helpful to you. I think it is interesting and helpful to see these patterns or common themes. Sometimes, we may see what our children or spouses have seen all along.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:26:01 +0000

Jim, I also have gone back and read through my journals. I find themes of pride, relying on others’ opinions of me to ground my identity, and other strong themes that have gone around the mountain so I am looking at the same view from a different vantage point. At least there is some distinction between the phases, but it is a good opportunity for me to find my thorns. And I thought it was interesting that you also have pieces of those reflections that are stronger with you than others. I have a 3 page typed journal entry that I have gone back to when I am in doubt and disillusionment. It reminds me that I have been there and back before, but that it is okay to ask those hard questions. I think journaling is a really practical way of living out God’s call for us to "remember."

By: Rusty Gates

Rusty Gates — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:22:07 +0000

I think one of my biggest fears is that I’ll go an entire day without thinking of where I am in relation to God and what He has done and is doing for me. I have a minimal relationship with my father and it is usual to go months without seeing him. That being so, it isn’t hard for me to go days or even weeks without thinking about him, as terrible as that is. I know how easy it becomes to fall into the whole out of sight out of mind thing. I say this just to reinforce the power of journaling daily. Sometimes when i sit down to write in my journal I find that I don’t really have anything to say, and those are usually the times that I look back over the last couple of days and find that I really need to deal with something.

By: gail

gail — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:43:42 +0000

This post was very beneficial to me. I was re-reading some of my journal entries and found a common thread. Why? Why? Why? Why did I say that? Why did I do that? Why did that happen to me? Why are my children acting this way? Why does God want me to be here, or there? That helps me because I see I didn’t ever stop to listen and try to "hear" God’s answer. And why do I always have to know why anyway? I never thought about it but it sure helps to find this thread. Gail