“Oh, my journal, my journal!” (I wrote in my journal). “How I have been neglecting you!”

Then I went on to say the most ironic things, about journals and journaling…

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This journal obviously has seen use. Note the scuff marks, the flags bookmarking pages, the missing elastic at the side.

To emphasize the irony, in the continuation that follows, I boldfaced each occurrence of the word “journal.” And it’s okay if you laugh as you read, because I did, copying this out:

I have been pouring time—even way beyond my allotted writing hours—into the transcribing, editing, and amending [of] that Zambia Journal, and have been more than ‘written out’ by the time any personal journaling time seems permissible.

[I explain below, in black type, what the Zambia Journal is.]

And now… my October copy of The Writer arrives with articles on using ‘Journaling to fuel your creativity,’ for’ developing your craft,’ and to ‘record the sights and sounds of your life—as an inspiration notebook.’

So back I come. First to my ‘gratitude journal’ to express thanks just for a good writing task to do in the Zambia Journal, though there’s nothing literary about it; it’s mainly transcribing, and even presented in the form of a two-column chart!

But my major hope for devoting set blocks of time for writing through a year [has been] that God will keep giving me useful things to write—and so He did with this.

And indeed, a journal—actually two journals [juxtaposed]—did serve not only as the inspiration, but also as the actual meat of the finished product. And what is that finished product called but the Zambia Journal?

Much could come from my journals. I’ve known this all along. But for the grist to be there [to “mill” into a publishable product], I need to put it in. Therefore, let me not neglect this [personal journaling].

I need to explain what this “Zambia Journal” was.

When my husband went with others on a two-week mission trip to that African country, I (whose role turned out to be staying home to babysit the “funny” farm and to pray the team through the fortnight) kept a record in my journal of what I—and some others—prayed, without any prayer requests or preplanning of prayer topics. Meanwhile, to the best of his ability amid the busyness of service, said husband journaled the events and circumstances that unfolded through the mission team’s stay there.

When he got back, we compared journals and got bowled over by the astonishing “coincidences” of the prayers God laid on hearts back home and the needs of the team abroad (with whom we had no communication but one phone call over halfway through their stay).

That’s what inspired a chart sort of journal, giving dates and lining up needs that arose in Africa and prayers prayed back home. I sent out e-copies to the many people requesting one, and made hard copies for people at church to borrow or keep. Some people wept tears of awe at the power of God and prayer, many read the side-by-side “coincidences” several times. Finally, I put together a photo album with narrative in squares of text and the counterpart prayers in cloud shapes.

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Journals can bless in many forms.

~~~~~

Linked to Random Journal Day

 

8 thoughts on “On “Journals,” “Journals,” and “Journals”

  1. Oh I love this so much! We went on several mission trips and also spent time as the home team and prayer cover and I was always so amazed and blessed at the crazy “coincidences” !

    1. It’s both amazing and exciting, isn’t it, Susie? The way God works it all together. It’s just like Moses holding up his hands while Joshua led the fight on the front line, and Aaron and Hur helping hold up Moses’ hands. Alone, none of them would have attained the victory. And to see God’s Spirit so evident, it can take your breath away sometimes! Glad you chimed in here.

  2. We never have gotten together to talk about what you prayed for our trip to Peru! I sure hope you have that written down somewhere….

    1. Oh my, Laurie, I hope so, too! And that we do get together before long. Right now I’m a bit under the weather. I’ll email you.

  3. What an awesome record of God’s faithfulness…and I loved how many times you repeated journal in your journal entry…also the part about adding “grist” to the “mill” was an apt metaphor and motivation for me to keep journaling….Thanks!

    1. Thanks, Kel. You give me lots of grist for my mill, too. l’m so happy to be back in touch with inspiring people like you! May your Advent-ure be richly blessed this year!

  4. I love every time you share. The love you have for your journals resonates with me, and I love the way you love to capture their uniqueness as well when you share. Journal, Journal , Journal…music to my ears, and I love them even more when I can smell, see, touch them. Is that a Creative Memories Scrapbook? Oh, I should share about that sometime. All kinds of journaling (and scrapbooking is the same)…reflect seasons of life, depth of soul, provide much insight for sharing. All good. THank you for joining in, I love all you share.

    1. I love being here in this community, Dawn. So glad you’ve kept it going.
      The scrapbook is either a Creative Memories one, or one very like that. I’m just realizing how much I turn my scrap/memory books into journals of a sort. That would be a good theme for some future RJD.

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