Tag: journaling

Why: For What Cause, Reason or Purpose

Seeking answers through collage work

Why do you think we ask why?

I posed that question to myself and fellow journal keepers in writing class this week. We’ve been making queries and seeking answers through the tip of our pens and random magazine images.

We’ve gleaned insight and shared wisdom by writing and talking and pondering questions together.

As the others in class write quietly, I join them in my own journal.

Here are my musings from yesterday:

Why do we ask why? Because we’re curious, we want to know more, to understand and to be understood, for comfort, for courage, for confidence? How to get it “right” or correct?

I ask why when I don’t understand. Why is not doubt–it’s curiosity; it’s cause and effect. A curious child asks why out of a need for knowledge and understanding. I don’t think it occurs to them that they might be questioning some authority–it’s just a simple why, a inquiry of how come such and such occurs this way or that way. But why do they keep asking why after someone explains–are they not satisfied with the answer? A teenager seemingly asks why out of some inner angst–but what if, they are just trying out their voice, wanting to be heard. Working out their own identity, purpose and reason for being.

As an adult, my whys have been more about wanting closure, to know why something happened to me or to someone else, questions for the Creator of the Universe. I want explanations. I need some defense or answer to give myself or another who is confused, baffled, hurting and broken. I demand an answer, but then I wonder will I be satisfied with such an answer. Maybe expressing why is more of a lament. A means to say out loud that I am confused, frustrated or even just curious. To use why as a lament helps me to grieve and to process unwelcome and unwieldly emotions and circumstances.

It’s okay if I don’t get a solid answer to why. It’s okay to not know. We can ask why as a way to explore and discover, to express our emotions, even to test the validity or consistency of a thing, an idea or even another person’s actions toward us. We may not always be right. We might misconstrue motives or intent. We might never get an answer. But this doesn’t have to be as infuriating, as it might have been when the only answer from a parent was “because I said so!” Now, we can voice our whys and sit with the silences, the suppositions and the comfort of not needing to know it all.

After our writing time, I invited the class to respond to one of the following activities:

  • Imagine a child asking why. Write down questions they might ask.
  • Imagine a teenager asking why. Write out their questions.
  • Imagine an adult asking why. Compose their questions.
  • Create a magazine collage to answer your why questions.
  • Write a spine poem to answer one of your why questions.
  • Make a mind map of your why question to brainstorm answers and insights.

One person started with why in a circle and then branched out with the questions who, what, where, when, and how did she ask why, then added another layer to each of those circles with how did a child, teenager or adult ask why. It was fun witnessing her joy, as she mapped out what was going on in her mind.

For the spine poem, I used the word “why” and this popped into my head:

Wondering
How to
Yield

Next with some trepidation, not sure if it would work, I chose to thumb through some phrases and images from magazines that I had randomly cut out. I was surprised by how the words and images helped me to express my “answers” to why, and then the images also caused me to ask why again. Why a nest? Why would a teenager think this collage was boring? Why don’t butterflies build nests? But the one phrase that summarized my musings the most was: “The answer to our deepest needs.” That phrase confirmed my idea that asking why in and of itself might just be one of our deepest needs.

For what reasons do you ask why?

Even the psalmists asks why:

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? (Psalm 8:3-4 The Message)

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God. (Psalm 42:5 The Message)

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Congratulations and RJD Link-Up

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

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Congratulations for making it into 2016! I am thankful!

It’s that time of the month to celebrate all things journaling, with Dawn and other brave souls who share their musings from a random journal via a featured blog post. Won’t you join us?

Since it’s a new, fresh year, Dawn has some great innovations for RJD. If you’d rather not dig through old journals to see what has transpired in your life, why not try one of her prompts to see what flows out of your soul on to the page? Click here to share in the goodness.

For me, keeping journals, of all sorts, offers me time and space to muse, to reflect, to pray, and to play with words and images.

If the word journal intimidates you, I challenge you to give it another name. Here are some ideas: a sketchbook, a notebook, a diary, a daybook, a planner, a scribble pad, a doodle danger, a smuch printzer, a fooldle folder, you get the gist. Another idea that helps me is realizing that a journal is a container. A container for me to store whatever I want.

For me, pen plus paper equals soul freedom. A personal way to explore, discover and define my life.

It’s not that mystical. It’s not really magical. It’s practical. But once you start, your imagination joins in and it tells you things like: This is the magic wand  you’ve always wanted. This is your secret garden or private retreat.

So today, I’m going to take the plunge with Dawn and try something new. I am going to choose one of her prompts, right here before your very eyes and type out my response for two minutes.

Hold on. I’ll be right back. Setting the timer and choosing my prompt.

#8. I never would have thought . . .that I would call myself a writer or an artist, yet here I am fifty years of life under me and in me and throughout me. I am fifty years old and pretty proud of that fact. It’s silly I know, but I like being fifty. I like being me. I want others to like themselves and me, of course. But it’s not that important anymore what others think of me, because I know that I’m okay. I have all that I need and want and desire and with God for me, and with me I can face…

All done. I ran out of time, so I left the sentence unfinished. Which is fine with me. I can come back to it later and respond more. I even see a new prompt emerging: I can face . . .

Go grab the closest piece of paper and mark maker and give one of Dawn’s prompts a try. Do it for you and no one else. That makes it’s so much more fun, like a special indulgence. You’re worth it! Happy Day, everyone!

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And for my the final revelation of today’s post…that one thing you all were waiting for…drum roll, please…the winner of the journal/planner/book Giveaway is…Kelly Greer! (Send me an email to get all the goodness!)

Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as a meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.

Natalie Goldberg

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 13

Compass: To Pace With

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25 ESV)

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“I know how to accept middles, endings and new beginnings…and I will.” (paraphrased from Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie)

To me a compass is an instrument that you use to get directions. Or more accurately to confirm that I am headed in the correct direction. I have to trust the compass, and gravity and whatever magical physics are behind the device and its use. (Have you figured out yet that I haven’t had much real experience with a compass. I have a romantic attachment to the object as a metaphor for travel and journeys, etc.)

Just when I thought I knew what a compass meant, I discovered a new meaning.

I discovered that compass can be used as a verb, opening up new realms of possibility. It is related to words and phrases like: encompass, comprehend, bring about, obtain and devise. Quite a variety of meanings to chew on.

As we say good-bye to this year, and enter the new one, I wonder what the future will encompass. What will I need to comprehend to keep moving forward? What does God plan to bring about? Will I obtain new clarity? But most of all, I want to keep pace with the Spirit of God.

The Spirit of God can act like a compass in my life, reassuring me through God’s word and presence that I’m headed towards God. And I appreciate how the Spirit corrects me when I’ve wandered away. I am so thankful that I’m don’t have to be left to my own devices.

Have a Blessed New Year! And don’t forget to comment over on the Giveaway post to win a new journal and 2016 planner with a re-purposed book cover to carry them in, as well as a copy of my self-published devotions. The winner will be announced on January 2nd, along with the first RJD Link-up of the year!

And come back tomorrow for a special treat! My friend and fellow journal enthusiast, Lynn Morrissey will be sharing the art of the acronym poem, also known as an alpha poem, along with her own reflection using this art form. She will be concentrating on New Beginnings! Yay!

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Concise: With Few Words

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 KJV)

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Little zingers. Proverbs. One-liners. Concise statements catch my attention, like this groovy lawn ornament I couldn’t help but notice today. Unforgettable.

One word or thought can keep me occupied for hours.

I was pondering snow today, after reading Dawn’s prompt on the topic. At first, I was a little depressed because our forecast has not a trace predicted for this Christmas.

(Before I go any further, I do want to mention that “con-” words could be considered cousins to “com-” words. There’s a whole family of prefixes that translate into “with.”  “Col-” and “co-” are the other two relatives. Just in case there was any confusion about why I might be going down this rabbit trail with concise.)

Concise means with few words, and literally means to cut up, like into smaller portions. Right from the start I’d like to apologize for my verbosity in explaining all of this, because I really am trying to use as few words as possible. Not because it is necessary, but because I like to challenge myself to be concise. Being concise can take courage. Sometimes I have the false belief that the more words I use, the better  it will be for others to comprehend what I am conveying in words. But actually using more words, often complicates the situation leaving the audience buried under an avalanche of ideas.

Now if you are still with me, and wondering how any of this fits together, let me remind you that it all started with the word snow. Snow and how it can bring to mind so many memories, feelings and hopes, and even songs, like “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas . . .” or “Walking in a winter wonderland . . .” and other such sentiments.

What is it about snow that evokes such awe and desire?

Snow often brings to mind the famous cry of David:

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
  wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7 NIV)

After it snows, a fresh blanket of white covers the earth, softening the barren winter landscape. Snow transforms, just like forgiveness. These are the kind of thoughts that run randomly through my mind when I think of snow.

One way that I like to explore a word is to make it into an acronym. This practice of using each letter of a word or phrase as the spine for my poetic expression becomes a sort of playful and sometimes even serious, searching prayer.

I leave you with some short words and their poetic pairings to contemplate.

Something
New transpires
Oustide and in:
Winter wondering.

I was in a funk today, before I started journaling and pondering snow. Sometimes when I feel this way, I start denying myself the simple pleasures of life, which seems like an odd way to combat a depressed mood. So, I start trying various things to cajole myself out of it. Today, while I was walking around the block to shake off the doldrums, two words sparred with each other. Deny and Rely.

Do not touch.
Evade feelings.
No need to mention your needs.
“You don’t matter.”

Do not taste.
Erase hunger,
Negate desire–STOP
Yearning.

Do not treasure–
Enjoy
Not–
Yield to nothing!

 

Rejoice in
Everything!
Let go–be still–
Yield . . .

And one more about a snow laden memory from childhood:

Laughter
Echoed
That night,

It snowed.
Together we

Soared down the
Nearby hill with stars
Over our heads.
Wheee!

 

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Summer is for . . . Reading!

In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book,
    and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord.

(Isaiah 29:18-19a)

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My summer reading list tends to be ambitious. I am a book nibbler. And so books that I never finish keep making it back on to my list each summer. Slaughterhouse Five captures my attention, and I like the voice of the narrator, but for some reason I put it down before finishing. I’ve never read the complete trilogy of The Lord of the  Rings, although I have seen the movies and remember fondly finishing The Hobbit in seventh grade. My first long book followed by Little Women sealed my  love for reading great stories.

I like to dip into fiction and non-fiction. Therefore my list includes a little bit of each.

Besides the books pictured above, which include a devotional and the Literary Study Bible, I will be reading through Jesus Calling and The Language of Letting Go. I try to read from each of these and the Scriptures daily. My journaling friend, Dawn, just recommended a great resource for a Bible reading plan, where you read a different genre from the Bible each day of the week.

My love for journaling has been rekindled through Dawn’s enthusiasm for the topic, so I was searching Pinterest for some resources and journaling prompts. One blogger includes a list of books about journaling in the linked post.

To me keeping a journal and reading go hand in hand. I write about what I read. I can process what a Scripture means to me through writing about it. I record quotes in my journal or a favorite verse from the Bible. If a word catches my attention, I grab my favorite dictionary to look up its meaning. There’s nothing like a dictionary dig to satisfy this word loving heart of mine.

What books do you want to read this summer?

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 6