THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE OF JOURNALING

HOW TO KEEP A SPIRITUAL JOURNAL FOR MONITORING YOUR GROWTH

 

"Watch carefully how you live!"  
Ephesians 5:15

A spiritual journal is an ideal way to keep a written record of personal reactions to spiritual matters. Its main function is to keep you “intentional” about your own spiritual growth by allowing you to look back to see how you have spiritually grown or perhaps shrank.

A spiritual journal is not a diary. Its focus is mainly on the growth of your relationship with God and on the growth of your effectiveness as a priest.  

What kinds of things go into a spiritual journal?

·         Observations on things that you sense going on around you as you go through times of change and growth

·         Places you have been and what you drew from them (e.g. retreats or spiritual gatherings, celebrations)

·         Insights you have about yourself and your ministry

·         Feedback you have been given by others through conversation or written communication

·         Prayers you have read, written, said or heard

·       Special insights about ministry that you have come across and want to remember (either intact or where to  find them)

·         Ways you have surprised yourself

·         Things you have discovered about yourself as you look back through your journal

·         Important dates and events that impact your marriage or priesthood

·         Things that come to you while driving, sleeping or meditating

·        Insights gained during reflections on special milestones (e.g. your birthday, your anniversary of ordination or  time in an assignment)

·        Clever and insightful ideas and quotes that can be used in ministry or personal reflections

Are there any helpful guidelines?

• The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and God during writing. Pious sentiments that you feel you should have are not helpful.
• The date and the time should be clearly marked with each entry. Since you are tracking your progress, you will not be confused about “when” you wrote something or when something actually happened.
• Get a good sturdy book, not a flimsy notebook, since you will be taking it with you when you travel, move, go on retreat. It should look “worthy” of what it contains. It should be left in plain sight so that it can beckon you to come and write.
• Remember that journals can be lost, stolen or accidentally read by others, no matter how careful you are. You may choose some code words that only you know for the most private and sensitive entries.  

Journals I gave the deacon candidates in the Diocese of Kingstown, SVG.

My personal journals back to 1968