Journaling? Or Chronicling?

By Elizabeth Prata

I was at a friend’s house for dinner. There were 3 of us ladies there, 70 something, 60 something, 30’s almost. We got to talking about diaries and journaling.

I’d said I bought a diary at a thrift store that was written by a teenager in 1931. Nearly 100 years old, it was an insight into the daily life of a high schooler in a time of depression, rural poverty, and a long ago era. It was a fascinating read. She rarely mentioned her family. It was almost entirely about cliques, social life, other girls, popularity, and fun events. Just like a 15 year old girl might write about today!

But that got us talking about journaling in general.

If I remember correctly we agreed that journaling in the form of a diary, i.e. putting pen to paper and writing down all our thoughts and feelings, wouldn’t be that great use of time in our opinion. Why would we be writing this stuff down? Just for ourselves? With a risk of adult children reading it after we’d passed away? To do some naval gazing instead of gazing at the One who is our North Star? Too much introspection leads to self-centeredness. We should deny ourselves and look to Him.

I remember the movie The Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. Meryl was nominated for an Academy Award for lead Actress. It won lots of other awards and reaped a high ticket gate. It was essentially an apologetic and a affirmation of the ‘healthiness’ or the ‘necessity’ for adultery. It came out in 1992. The adulteress passed away, keeping her secret to the grave, except her adult kids read it and instead of being outraged learning that she had cheated on their father, they were moved. Actually knowing this helped each of them in their own marriages. Oy. Adultery is not a healer, it’s a divider.

Anyway, even if the thoughts written down weren’t some deep sin, who wants to read their mom’s opinions on Aunt Tillie’s hat or whether she liked some recipe her sister made her try….or something

I think it was safe to say that diary, bare-all writing wasn’t for us.

I know that “Bible art journaling” is (or was?) a thing. In my opinion, God’s pure and holy word doesn’t need enhancements. And we, having the sin-nature, don’t need distractions competing with God’s word.

Taking notes during a sermon, that’s good. We all agreed we take notes in some form or another, whether meticulously or just jotting down a Bible verse reference or a word or two.

I commented that I chronicle. I don’t journal, Bible art journal, or even prayer journal. I DO chronicle. I have a planner that goes from June to June. So I am leafing thru it today (June 28) as I plan on setting it aside to bring my next planner up on deck for July 1, and I discover all the books I’d read. I start listing them. I had thought I had only read 4 or 5 books, so I was disappointed with myself. But I didn’t need to be sad, I’d read 26 books, which was my goal! 11 theology books, 2 professional books, 6 non-fiction and 7 fiction, a nice spread. Also rediscovered some dishes to make I’d forgotten about, and more. Chronicling can be useful.

I’d jotted down when I was out sick from school, my trip to Lake Rabun, the movies I’d seen or TV shows I’d forgotten about. When my last dentist appointment was, or the great score at the thrift store. Prayer list. Books I’m reading.

Below is the list of the books I read this past year. The Harry Potter #2 I didn’t finish and neither did I finish I Couldn’t Care Less (a noir detective novel from the 1940s). The most enjoyable books on the list were Grann’s The Wager, The Art Thief (make sure you get the book by Finkel, there’s another one named the same that’s dull as dishwater), and most of the stories in Nine Tomorrows. For the theology books I enjoyed the Sproul bio, and Scandal of False Teaching, as well as Taming the Fingers.

Do you journal? Prayer journal? Keep a diary? Jot notes during sermons or lectures? Do Bible art in your journal? Do Bible crafts in an art sketchbook?

There are all different ways to process the theological content we take in. How do you?