Earlier this week, I was talking to some of my squad-mates about PRETTY GIRLS, SKINNY JEANS, and FINDING
NEMO, you know…guy stuff.
Without fair warning, I was asked a difficult question about my past
and how I felt.
I kinda half-mentioned let me refer back to my journal so I get the
facts straight and blank stares seem to follow that statement.
“Jamal, you have a diary?”
“I have a journal that I write my thoughts in but if you would like to
call it a diary, Ill accept that. You dont journal?”
To my utter shock, neither of them had a journal.
“How is it possible to go through life without a journal?” I thought to
myself.
To be completely honest, my memory isnt that good so I need to write
everything down.
But then I got excited because one of the lessons Ive learned on the
race is: being vulnerable opens the doors for others to be vulnerable too. And
Im able to introduce life lessons that have helped me during my walk that they
may not have experienced yet.
[Example:When Complaining is the Most
Spiritual Thing You Can Do. Youre welcome!]
So that night, I showed them a picture of the collection.And now Im
sharing it with you…my box of journals (the picture above).
My mom gave me my first journal in 8th grade and this is the
majority of my journals I have written in, scribbled on, and wanted to burn
over the last 16 years.
I have completely filled two more journals since beginning the race.
The other night, I shared a few carefully selected excerpts to my squad-mates
and told them what to do whenever I die [No Reading! Burn them! Seriously.]
They loved it. Honestly, so did I. I loved sharing my history with
them.
I challenged them to start now. Start writing what they were learning,
experiencing, and praying.
I understand that everyone doesnt enjoy writing, I get that. But I
think journaling in some form or fashion is super important – whether that is a
pen to paper, writing a song, making lists on your computer, writing a blog
post, whatever.
You need to journal because you need to be recording Gods faithfulness
in your life.
You need to have a place where important verses are collected. You need
to have a spot where you hurt, then wrestle with God (like Jacob), and survive
it. You need to write the prayers that seem to never get answered. But also write
down the ones that ARE answered.
I dont journal every day and I dont feel guilty about that. But when
I do sit down with my journal, it slows down my mind to write, instead of type,
my thoughts. My prayers are more intentional when Im scripting out every word.
One of the sweetest entries for me, to date, is when I wrote DOUBT(Click Here if you didnt read it yet). I had
no idea how He was going to free me from that weight. The words are recorded
forever and therefore humbling when I look back from the other side.
When it is so easy for me to forget how many times God has saved the
day, or feel like He has forgotten me, I have my journals to remind me that He
has ALWAYS been for me.
Do you journal?When
did you start? Tell me about your experience fellow journal-ers.
If not, tell me
why or what is stopping you from starting.
If you do not journal, I challenge you to begin today.
Write your comings and goings, your deepest thoughts, triumphs and failures, and
testimonies. Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there
will also be rich passages that will amaze you. And what could you do better
for your children and grandchildren than to record the story of your life,
triumphs over adversity, recovery after a fall, progress when all seemed black,
and your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? START TODAY!
