Keeping a journal, writing a love letter

by: Father Matthew Linn

For many years, I attended workshops on how to keep a prayer journal and I was always convinced of the value of keeping this journal to focus my inner life. But despite that, they were very few times that I kept a journal. When it came time to write in the diary at the end of the day, I was too tired to exercise that seemed almost a school assignment. And while it was, it was getting very little writing.

But a month later, I found myself wanting to have scored an inspiration or emotional experience, rather than have let go without being taken advantage of it. Then I was surprised at how others could discuss what their experiences taught him, while I spent so much work still vaguely remembering things had happened to me. While my friends pondered and became experienced, I only had some experiences to remember.

Then later, I found great pleasure in writing letters to my friends. They told them about what was happening in my life and what those things meant to me. And I found that the more in love with a person, not just felt the desire to share more of myself and what I was living, but also how I felt about it. Then I realized that I could not do in my diary, I was doing in my letters. Moreover, I did not feel like work, but as something he enjoyed.

For example, I could never take my journal what my religious vows meant to me, however, I found myself writing four pages to a friend who asked me why I wanted to make final vows? It is true that my letter was full of errors and half-thoughts, because it was written late at night, my heart rather than my head ... but it was so special!

After that letter was that I discovered a new growth within me, more gratitude and commitment to my vocation as a Jesuit, a new desire to serve the poor and not just those who were grateful, deep trust in allowing God to work through my poverty, a desire to grow in love bachelor who treats everyone like family, and be more open to receive the love that made me more appreciative of what was taking place in these times. I grew that one letter more than any other thing I did that year, and in some ways, was starting a newspaper. The love I felt for my friend took me to share with him my heart, so I no longer noticed how to spell words or expressing ideas, but I focused on telling these things that happened in my life and through them as I felt.

So I started to keep a journal through my letters, Christmas cards especially where he shared the full year. I could write a letter to the events of the year had passed without taking the time to reflect and remember all the love that inspired me the friend to whom he wrote. Then, I began to remember things I wanted to share. He remembered some of the good times we spent together, and soon found my pen away. And according to the letter ended, I could guess what my friend would reply, because I also knew he would respond to the depths of his heart. And the greater was my love for that person, the easier it made me guess your answer.

Suddenly I found I could do this in prayer with Jesus. I relaxed in his presence and remembered a time he had experienced his love in a special way. Often it was something that had happened during the day and I was deeply grateful. And then began writing a word of thanks, followed by all the things I wanted to share with him did not have to be written in complete sentences because Jesus understands even a single word, but the prayers helped me clarify what I really wanted to tell. Usually told him what I felt in my heart and those things he most wanted. After writing my name ... followed by what Jesus would say in response to my letter. And guess what my friend wrote, so imagine what Jesus was answering me.

But Jesus really is, or is it just my imagination answering myself? The day I asked myself this question than any word that makes me feel stronger Your love has to be really the voice of Jesus. And if I can write a love letter to Jesus is only because I heard his voice on the letter that I wrote him and me. "In this is love: not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins "(1 John 4, 10). Keeping a journal is just that, write a love letter to Jesus and hear His voice in the letter and he has written first.

The more love I put in my letters, the more I hear what Jesus says to me, because love makes the heart work to hear everything. Who is the first to hear a crying baby at night? Usually, he is more worried about the baby is sleeping a lighter sleep and be less prone to roll over to continue sleeping. A loving mother heard the crying of her baby and know immediately if the baby is hungry, wet, tired, scared, cold or in danger.

Love opens the ears of the heart that can hear what others ignore, and to make sense of what others may consider foolish. The deeper is our love for Jesus - as the love of a mother for her baby - hear his voice stronger and more easily understand. So when I wonder if Jesus really is my own imagination or just answering me, I can ask myself: what am I am loved by Jesus, and I have for a love so deep as that of a mother for her child? The more I can give and receive love Jesus and others, the more I could hear his voice.

Here are some instructions that can help you keep your journal, writing a love letter to Jesus ... and to receive the letter you wrote him in response. But remember to keep a diary does not depend on the best technique of writing, but to discover that Jesus is the best friend we can have.

Instructions:

• When writing your journal, tell Jesus how many times during your prayer or during the day experienced greater struggle or spiritual growth.
• Write in your journal how Jesus responds to you (which seems to do or say in response to what you said in your letter). If you can not get in touch with how Jesus answers, write what moves you most when you talk with him or whatever He tells you want at that time. Gradually you will notice that there are fewer than you and more of Jesus in the responses.

Based on the brochure Prayer Course for Healing Life's Hurts, Matthew Linn and Sheila Fabricant, 1983, The Missionary Society of St. Paul Apostle, NY.