96: Write It Down

I love learning someone’s story. Whether it’s an actual biography, an article, an interview, or a good conversation with a new friend over coffee, to me, it is fascinating to hear how someone came to be—the experiences that contributed to the person they are today.

There are lots to choose from, but one of my favorite biographies I’ve read, at least in recent years, is titled, A Burning in My Bones by Winn Collier. It tells the story of Eugene Peterson, pastor and creator of The Message scripture translation. Now, what’s interesting about this is, Peterson actually wrote his own autobiography called, The Pastor. And yet, I found I connected more with the version he didn’t write himself, the one written by Collier.

To be fair, Peterson did have a significant hand in what Collier was able to put together. Because Peterson gave him access to years and years of journal entries in order to write his story. In fact, many excerpts of these journals are included throughout the book. Rather than the more polished and edited passages from his autobiography, these journal entries give a raw, unfiltered, intimate glimpse into what Peterson was experiencing in the moment. I’m sure what Peterson shared in his autobiography is true, but, to me, his journal entries ring truer; they are deeply honest. And I’m grateful he decided to share some of them with us.

For many people {and I imagine for Eugene Peterson, too}, journaling is an important spiritual practice. Because it not only helps us process, reflect, and learn, but it also helps us remember.

Think about it: can you remember details from this exact date one year ago? If something life-altering happened, maybe. But if it was an average, ordinary day, probably not. Unless, of course, you wrote it down.

In a very practical sense, whether it’s a grocery list, a quote, or a snippet of our to-do list on a post-it note, writing something down helps us remember. And when it comes to our lives—and to our faith—remembering is key.

As writer Allison Fallon wrote in her book, The Power of Writing It Down,

“What do you want to remember about your life? …What we write down is what we remember. It’s like a time capsule in a way, a lifeline back to the best parts of ourselves. A little popcorn trail of words we can follow so that we never lose sight of the path we’re on. Words help us see ourselves more clearly. They help us remember who we are and what we’re here for.”

Along those same lines, I think it can be a gift in the long run to regularly keep a journal of some sort, documenting all the ups and downs, twists and turns, and regular, ordinary days. Not because we plan to share it with the world, but because, as I say each and every episode, sometimes, life makes it easy to forget. And when we can look back and read our story in our own words, tracing and noticing the movement and presence of God in and through different seasons and chapters, it helps us remember that we are not forgotten, even if it might feel like it in the moment.

As spiritual director Sue Pickering writes,

“In times of stress the journal can provide a tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness and care; in times of doubt we can look back and see God’s provision for us; in times of emerging call, we can see the signposts already passed and gain the courage to keep on looking for the next way-marker.”

Now, I know that some of you might already know exactly what I’m describing here. You’ve been journaling for years and love it and don’t really need this reminder. And yet, for others, I know that journaling might not feel very intuitive. In fact, it might feel pretty intimidating. No worries. No shame. Some people just aren’t wired for the written word, and that’s okay. You are not “less than” if this sort of thing doesn’t work for you. But I’d also like to suggest that maybe you give it a try for a bit. Because for you, it might not look exactly like you think it’s supposed to.

The truth is, spiritual journaling doesn’t necessarily have to look like traditional diary keeping. It can; but it can also look all sorts of different ways. Again, Sue Pickering writes,

“In our journal we can reflect on a key moment; we can explore a scripture passage to see what it might have to say about our current circumstances; we can track our path through grief or transition and name the signposts of grace which emerge from the darkness of such times; we can cover a page with question marks or sketch a rainbow of ‘thank-you’s; we can write a psalm of lament, or wound the page with slashes of red in anger; we can find ourselves filled with unexpected joy as we discover a fresh truth in a familiar Gospel or in the lyrics of an old hymn. Small wonder then that the act of keeping a spiritual journal can be likened to prayer for, in the process of engaging at depth with elements of our daily experience, we reveal more of the truth of who we are to ourselves, and bring that truth to the God who knows us intimately.”

Did you catch what Sue shared there? At the end of the day, the practice of spiritual journaling is really a way to pray. To connect with God. To be honest with God. And to invite our awareness of God into our lived experience. It’s like documenting God’s presence, keeping a spiritual scrapbook of sorts.

If you’re wanting to give it a try and wondering where to start, there really isn’t a “right” way. You can write in paragraph form, bullet style, one-line-a-day, or even some sort of word art. There will probably be some trial and error along the way. But in case it’s helpful, here are a few prompts you might consider using each day as you begin:

What was life-giving today?

What was draining today?

What are you grateful for?

What bothered you?

Where did you see God?

In my own life, I’ve seen the effect keeping a spiritual journal can have, both in the present and when I take the time to look back. It can be comforting and encouraging to remember where and who I’ve been, to notice the presence and faithfulness of God, and to reflect on who I’m becoming along the way.

But the neat thing is, spiritual journaling isn’t just for our own personal benefit or memory. Often, our remembering reminds us to live into our purpose and enables us to care for and love others in an important way.

A few days ago, I was listening to a recent episode of Kate Bowler’s podcast, Everything Happens. In it, she was having a conversation with poet Maggie Smith. Maggie shared a bit about her heartbreaking divorce after her husband was unfaithful, and she told a story about how her community rallied around her during that difficult time.

It was her first Christmas morning alone at her house and without her kids, and she didn’t really know what to do with herself. So, she went on a run. And after she came back, a neighbor came to her door with cake in hand and said these words to Maggie:

“I just saw you run by my house. And I remembered that this is your first Christmas without your kids on Christmas morning. And I remember having that experience the first Christmas after my divorce. So here is some cake.”

Maggie shared it was a reminder to her that she was not alone. And it meant the world. And it happened because a neighbor remembered their own experience and how they felt, and they wanted to make sure Maggie didn’t have to feel that way alone.

I like to think that maybe that neighbor kept a journal. Because even the difficult entries can help us as we seek to love and support one another.

So today, as you notice the presence of God in your own story {and even if you don’t}, consider writing it down. Find a journal you like and make it your own. As we look back and read our stories and experiences in our own words and in our own ways, may we remember who we are and continue to become who we’re called to be.