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The subject of my journey this week is because of the pandemic and the resulting social distancing that has restricted me to my home. This down-time provided me with an opportunity to review my 45 years of writing daily journals.
“A faintly written word is more powerful than the best memory,” my Georgia friend Jim Bazemore said.
With this quote in mind, here are some thoughts from reviewing my journals:
- In 1967 while home on “extension leave” I made a big life choice, marriage. Thursday, I purchased engagement ring, Friday, I proposed; Saturday, we had a wedding; Sunday, our honeymoon until Tuesday morning when Judy and I flew to San Francisco. There I boarded a plane back to Vietnam, and she rode the bus across the Golden Gate Bridge back to the San Francisco International airport to return to Texas alone.
- I really liked this exchange: A skeptic and a little girl were discussing the Bible story of Jonah. The adult asked the little girl, “Do you really believe a fish swallowed Jonah?” The little girl replied, “Yes I believe it; anyway, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask Jonah if it’s true.” The skeptic replied, “What if he is not there?” The little girl replied: “Then you’ll have to ask him.”
- In 1984, I observed the burial site of 14 German prisoners of war whose graves are in the U.S. Military Prison Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Housed at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, all 14 were executed after being convicted of killing three of their fellow German inmates. As a final insult, although buried in a Christian cemetery, all their graves face west.
- Over the years, I have had the privilege of conducting many memorial funeral services. Recently, I was surprised by the weight of the ashes from a cremated friend. It was surprisingly heavy; it felt like about five pounds.
- "Honor is something you give up — no one can take it away from you.” Quote from Chief of Staff of the Army.
- Without my written journals I would not have remembered some of these life events. I believe in journaling, and it is my habit. Many journals can be found in libraries; including the ones by John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States who wrote from the age of 10 until his late 70s — 14,000 pages in all.
The pandemic provides a good start time for journaling. Buy a notebook, pick a time of day to write, never skip a day even if you only write one sentence and record the main event of the day for you. Begin with "how the pandemic is affecting your life?," "What is your relationship with the Lord?," "Do you face anxiety or fear? How do you handle it?"
The importance of the written word shows through the Bible. The Apostles, especially St. Paul, wrote many letters to the New Testament churches. Paul expressed his personal hope that what he wrote was bringing people to God.
“Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.” II Corinthians 3:2 (NIV)
That is the best writing, when another’s life is changed because of what you do with Christ. Start today, pray over recording your life through the discipline of writing. In the future, you will be glad you did.
