It's been a tough few days. A dear family member is struggling in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. This person has been dealing with a chronic, and ultimately terminal, illness for 14 months. Now, their body has developed pneumonia. It's hard to say whether the person will recover in this world or move on to the next.
My husband, Rev. Bob, and I have been visiting our family member daily over the holiday weekend. We just sit quietly in the room while the patient drifts in and out of sleep. Every once in a while, they ask us a question; we respond, and the quiet, sleep-drifting routine resumes.
As I sit there, I notice that my husband is taking notes in his journal. I asked him one day what he was doing. He said that "writing helps me understand and hear God's voice in my heart." I remembered a journal I had filled several years ago when I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life's journey and the insights, comfort and healing I received from simply "writing right through" those arduous days. It's true that writing is healing. Several 12-Step groups include writing as one of the spiritual tools of recovery because the practice of writing down our thoughts, feelings, doubts, questions, even what we hear our God saying to us, helps. It makes a difference.
Writing right through it works, too, when you are struggling with your writing projects. If you feel blocked or stale, try setting a timer for 15 minutes and then just writing down whatever comes to your heart. Keep writing without stopping for 15 minutes. When the timer buzzer sounds (and hopefully it is a pleasant, non-jarring sound), stop writing. Take a break: stretch, go for a quick walk, drink something refreshing. Then return to your journal entry. You'll see some remarkable insights or gentle nudges or just some great heart housecleaning on those pages. Now, sit down and write for real on that project you've been working on. Your writing will feel smoother, will flow more easily, and will be more in tune with your unique writer's voice.
Keep our family member in your thoughts and prayers for God's will to be done. And, as always, Happy Writing!
Peace and Serenity,
Coach Sue
