“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. … Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
Admittedly, this biblical quote starts my second blog on, if not an ominous tone, then a more serious tone than I intended to set. But I go where the spirit moves me, and today’s spirits — tequila, Prosecco, rosé are leading me…No. Just kidding. Wishful thinking.
I was moved to pursue the theme of building a solid foundation when I realized, recently, that, like the foolish man, I too had built some part of my “house” on sand. I had illusions that didn’t withstand the wind, rain and waves to which Matthew alludes. I was not prepared for COVID and it’s attendant economic, social and political woes. I was not prepared for weeks of isolation from my friends and family. For plan after plan being canceled. But throughout the last ten months of shifting sands, my journal has provided some solid ground on which to stand.
Julia Cameron got me started on “morning pages” in the early ’80s and since then dozens, maybe hundreds of trees have given their best years to my journaling. (I switched to a computer a few years back so you don’t have to “cancel” me on Instagram or other enviro-friendly social media). Bottom line: keeping a journal is — for me — building block number one in the foundation of an examined life. Of a life built on a rock that has, and will continue to see me through life’s vicissitudes.
The journal is for my eyes only. In writing it I gain a degree of distance, of objectivity, from the “me” of the moment. A third-person-omniscient perspective on what is happening in and around me. Maya Angelou said: “you can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.” Keeping a journal is the best way I know to track my footprints. To observe how my choices have led me, for good or ill, to where I am today.
Only I can decide whether to change, amend, or abort mission on the course my life is taking. My journal stands as witness to my goals and objectives. It asks for accountability to myself, by myself, for myself. Did I keep those resolutions to lose weight, get in shape, make new friends, study French etc. etc? If not, why not? What obstacles blocked my way? Perhaps a realization dawned that those weren’t the goals I needed to pursue, anyway!
The key is that I’ve sustained a conversation between me, myself and I that’s bound to be enlightening, if only at some future time.
Care to give it a try?