"Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? (v.7)
— Psalm 139:1-18
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— Psalm 139:1-18 Resource Archive: Newsletter Archives |
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The RevWriter Resource (ISSN 1545-939X) A publication of RevWriter Resources, LLC April 2010 Volume 9, Number 4 Susan M. Lang, Editor and Publisher <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Dear Friends: In an earlier manifestation of my ministry as "RevWriter" I hosted an annual writer's conference with a focus on writing for ministry both in the local congregation and beyond. One of the first workshops I facilitated was titled Healing Words. It dealt with the many uses of journaling in one's personal life and ministry and how the very act of journaling can produce healing and personal growth--a fact backed by research. I think that any kind of journaling helps us to concretely remember who we are and to discover who we are becoming. We travel in such a fast-paced society, constantly running and doing, that the discipline of writing things down helps us to reconnect with ourselves and with who we are--children of God. Getting in touch with self and God will eventually help us get more in touch with those whose paths cross ours in life. Over the years, I've used a variety of journals--including a quote journal, a prayer log, and an interim ministry journal. Five years ago, after a conversation with a friend, I started a notebook in which I began to jot down notes and my reflections on our continuing discussions. The thoughts and ideas recorded in that journal became the seeds of a major ministry initiative. Getting your thoughts down on paper can really help you sort things out and can be quite productive! In this month's issue of the Resource, Kathryn Haueisen Cashen gives us a view of how journaling can become an important discipline on your personal spiritual journey. I invite you to try out some of her ideas but also to explore how you and your leadership team might utilize them in your ministry setting. What might a journal look like that captures ministry dreams and visions for your congregation? What might happen if your congregation developed journaling as a spiritual discipline in a class setting? The possibilities are endless. Blessings for your journey, RevWriter Sue Lang sue@revwriter.com If you need a leadership or other retreat facilitator, contact Pastor Sue Lang at sue@revwriter.com or call 215-453-8128. While Sue does have a list of previous workshop topics, she can create a retreat or workshop to meet the needs of your congregational leadership. Sue can also develop group leadership/learning events for a cluster of congregations that would like to increase their learning capacity by interacting with others and discovering what they are doing in their ministries. Contact her to learn more about congregational cluster workshops! Additional information on Sue's consulting work is also located at: http://www.revwriter.com/congregational/churchconsultant/index.shtml <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Theme: Journaling and Your Spiritual Journey Who would benefit from this issue? Pastors, church staff, congregational boards, and all disciples of Christ. Table of Contents 1 - Devotion: Psalm 139:1-18 by Susan M.Lang 2 - Journaling and the Spiritual Journey by Kathryn Haueisen Cashen 3- Resources for Journaling 4 - RevWriter News 5 - Announcements 6 - Publications Still Available 7 - Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 1 - Devotion by Susan M. Lang Read: Psalm 139:1-18 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? (v.7) Psalm 139 is intriguing. It tells us that the Lord knows everything there is to know about us: Our thoughts, our actions, and our words--even before we speak them. God has known us from the beginning of our creation in our mother's womb and will be with us forevermore. There is no place that we can go to hide from God for we are fully known by him. Yet the irony is that a person of faith lives life on a pilgrimage to discern those things that God already knows about him or her. What are my gifts and how might I steward them effectively to serve God and creation? What is my specific call to ministry as either a lay person or a professional church leader? How have the We spend our lives seeking answers to those questions and more--things the inescapable and omniscient God already knows. Our life on earth is really a journey of unfolding self-discovery requiring some intentional investment on our part so that we might discover and utilize the gifts for life and ministry that God has already bestowed upon us. O God, open my eyes and my heart to discern you so I might more fully become the person you created me to be. Amen Copyright © 2010 Susan M. Lang <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 2 - Journaling and the Spiritual Journey by Kathryn Haueisen Cashen Journaling is to writers what playing scales is to musicians. It is basic. It keeps the skills sharp. It keeps the creative thoughts flowing. I cannot imagine my life without journaling. My assignment for this article was to describe how journaling connects with my spiritual journey. Dr. Bradley Hanson, Director of Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation, teaches that spirituality is faith on a path. Faith moves us from where we are to what we are becoming. For me journaling both guides the direction of the journey and describes what I find along the path. Journaling helps me be more aware of God's presence. One of the more challenging and rewarding writing assignments I tackled was identifying 40 short pieces of writings from Kathleen Norris for the Augsburg Fortress "40-Day Journey with Kathleen Norris" book. Working on the project gave me a glimpse into the thinking of this remarkable woman's own spiritual journey. I particularly admire the detail with which she explains the origin or root meaning of basic faith terms. For example, she explains the word we translate as "perfect" has little to do with being error free. Rather, it is about becoming complete or fully mature. Such insights inspired me to devote some of my journal time to exploring the meanings of a word and short phrases. Sometimes these come from scripture, other times from some current circumstance. Such pondering often helps focus and shape the events of my day. I've long since outgrown the "Dear Diary" approach to journaling, though I still use it as a way to track where I've been and what I've been doing. I re-read old entries occasionally--usually when I finish one notebook and start a new one. It's an easy way to revisit the people and events that have influenced me. However, the more significant uses of a journal include: *Planning ahead. What's next on the horizon of this life-long faith journey? Where might God be trying to lead me? *Looking for meaning in events unfolding before me. How'd I end up where I am? Where shall I go from here? How does yesterday connect with today and tomorrow? *Pouring out grievances--my own and on behalf of others whose stories have touched me. Some parts of life are neither fair nor fun. A journal is a safe place to vent despair and frustration. *Seeking forgiveness for the ways in which I've not been who I'd hoped to be. This often prepares the way for making amends when and where possible. * Making decisions large and small. * Tracking answers to prayers. My journaling has evolved over the years. I began, as many teen girls do, with a diary and a little brass key to keep it locked away from my pesky brothers. Over the years journaling evolved into a personal memoir of life as a wife and mother. Eventually my journal became my primary way to pray. I typically start with a reading from scripture and/or a devotional. I like the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's "Word In Season" and "Christ in Our Home." I've worn out "God Calling" by A. J. Russell. A friend introduced me to "Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer" by Charles Ringma. Here are some tips to consider if you're interested in exploring or expanding journaling: 1) Try to journal about the same time every day. This reinforces the habit. 2) Write only for yourself and don't let anyone read what you write. You must be free to write it like it is without fear of offending, annoying, or even impressing someone. 3) Journaling resources such as those in the resources section may be helpful. However, just as reading recipes won't nourish your body, neither will reading about journaling nurture your spiritual journey. The best way to learn how to journal is to pick up a pen and write. 4) Although I've done some journaling on a typewriter or computer, writing longhand has been more effective. It forces me to slow down. 5) My journal is now my primary prayer time. Sometimes I write out what's on my mind and I let some other voice from somewhere write back responses. I don't try to understand the theology of how this works. I just know on many occasions this approach helps me find clarity and calmness when desperately needed. Other times I write out a short piece of scripture or other inspirational thought and write whatever comes to mind about it. 6) I pray for people in very specific ways in my journal--both my family and friends and people I read or hear about. 7) Journals are great places to envision and dream. I use journal time to map out short and long-range plans. It amazes me how often these plans come to pass, even if I don't re-read them until weeks or months later. For me, taking time to journal each day is like taking my daily vitamins. Although I can't really see the results when I do, I notice what happens when I don't. After a few consecutive journaling free days I Perhaps if we are too busy to journal, we're too busy. Some things may need to go. A journal would be a great place to sort that out. Copyright © 2010 Kathryn Haueisen Cashen Kathy Haueisen Cashen has been journaling and writing most of her adult life. When not parked somewhere with a pen or laptop she serves the ELCA as one of the Stewardship Key Leaders. She is remarried with an extended family of five adult children, two sons-in-law, and nine grandchildren. Kathy lives and writes in Houston, Texas, part of the time and in Australia at other times. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 3 - Resources for Journaling Web sites, articles and books: The Benefits of Journaling for Stress Management by Elizabeth Scott @ http://stress.about.com/od/generaltechniques/p/profilejournal.htm Benefits of Journaling: Professional and Personal Development Through Writing in a Journal by Pervin Shaikh @ http://stress.about.com/od/generaltechniques/p/profilejournal.htm www.inspiredtojournal.com www.augsburgfortress.org Several books on journaling, including: Living from the Heart of God: A Journal 40-Day Journey series with: Kathleen Norris, Joan Chittister, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Martin Luther Sustaining Simplicity: A Journal by Anne Basze Morning B.R.E.W. by Kirk Byron Jones Other Books available at www.amazon.com : Journaling As a Spiritual Practice: Encountering God Through Attentive Writing by Helen Cepero Journaling: A Spirit Journey by Anne Broyles <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 4 - RevWriter News Recent RevWriter Sightings: +In April 2010: +Sue will facilitate a day-long leadership retreat for a congregation in central New Jersey on April 24, 2010. +Sue is working on a project titled: Networks and the Book of Faith. Stay tuned! +Sue is serving as a coach in the ELCA Board of Pensions Journey of Renewal wellness pilot program. Her role as coach will expand this year as the program expands. <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 5 - Announcements Financial Contributions Welcomed Costs to produce and manage The RevWriter Resource will increase for me this year as the subscriber base continues to grow. Writers of devotions and main articles have always been, and will continue to be, paid. In the past, this has come out of my personal writing income, but as this ministry continues to grow, the cost to me will also continue to increase. In the effort to maintain the ministry provided through the publication of The RevWriter Resource without requiring a subscriber's fee, I am now welcoming contributions from subscribers. Contributions may be sent to: RevWriter Resources, LLC Or through Paypal to sue@revwriter.com Most importantly, I appreciate your prayers as this ministry continues to grow during its seventh year in publication. Blessings, Sue <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 6 - Publications Still Available: +John (Learner Guide and Leader Guide) by Susan M. Lang (Augsburg +Our Community: Dealing with Conflict in Our Congregation by Susan M. +Welcome Forward: A Field Guide for Global Travelers by Susan M. Lang 6-0002-0186-9) A CD of original music by composer Tim Hansen accompanies the book. Visit http://www.revwriter.com for a complete list of publications that Sue has authored. 7- Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info I maintain a strict privacy policy and will not sell or share my subscription list. The RevWriter Resource is sent to you at no cost. If you know of someone who might be interested in receiving The RevWriter Resource, you are welcome to forward it. Please do so only in its entirety, including my copyright information. If someone has forwarded The RevWriter Resource to you, I invite you to subscribe. To do so, visit my website at: http://www.revwriter.com/congregational/resource.shtml#signup Copyright 2002-2010 RevWriter Susan M. Lang. All rights reserved. For permission to quote or reprint, please contact me for written consent at sue@revwriter.com or The Rev. Sue Lang www.revwriter.com
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