“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)
When I worked as a counsellor and spiritual companion, I would sometimes suggest that the client or spiritual seeker should start keeping a diary or journal to record their thoughts, feelings and actions. This proved to be a very useful tool for many but others found it unhelpful or difficult to do. I admired those who were able to engage with the activity and empathised with those who struggled because I had never been able to find the discipline to do the same myself!
I had tried to keep a diary a number of times when I was younger, but my efforts rarely lasted more than a few weeks. I was encouraged to start a journal by my spiritual director when I began my own spiritual journey in earnest, but my motivation soon failed me despite finding the practice beneficial on occasions. I now realise some of the reasons for my failure which I won’t bother going into here! So it came as quite a daunting challenge when someone suggested to me that I start writing a regular blog for my website. Knowing my limitations in this respect I gave myself what I hoped was a realistic target of writing a monthly blog for one year, and here I am, twelve months later writing my twelfth entry!
I have learnt a number of things from committing to this exercise. I can be disciplined when I have the necessary motivation; I can enjoy these tasks when I feel that I have something to write rather than doing something because I have to, and I’ve found that some others have got something from my musings. But I have now come to the stage when I am going to change my approach.
The quotation from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Jewish/Christian scriptures which I refer to above, proved to be helpful here. I suggest that you read the passage in full. The author of Ecclesiastes writes that life leads us through certain inevitable events, for example, “a time to be born and a time to die”, and that there are also particular times to engage with life and times to let go, for example, “a time to search and a time to give up”.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities over the past year to support many couples as they celebrate their wedding day, and to be alongside a number of families as they mourn the death of a loved one. As I continue to engage with others during these key moments in life, so my time for writing a monthly blog has come to an end. I simply to not have the time to do it justice any more. My intention from now on is to write something when I feel inspired to do so and when I have the time to do so. I hope that I continue to have the discipline to do so!
April 2024