Enthusiastically, Dawn

It’s our final week of prompts. A challenge for you this week is to sit with these three distinct writing opportunities, ponder your thoughts, and pour them out onto paper. Don’t be deceived into thinking this is a waste. I promise if you allow yourself time to sit, read, think about what you have read in the prompts given, and write whatever comes to you, without judgment or criticism, just allowing your pen to flow, and go, go, go…you will not regret it. It could be revelation, epiphany, or serendipity. It could be all three. But pause, reflect, and write- and make space for your thoughts, give them room to breathe, and look back at you from the paper. Gain perspective, and discover the freedom of being that does not need to publicly share every moment with the world, on a social platform, but instead cherishes the still, quiet space where a soul can reveal its truth unhindered, and without the need or desire for approval or applause. The freedom the blank page offers is the power to hold space for your thoughts and your being. Take hold of it!

Just stumbling into our lovefest and wondering what gives? All the details and prior prompts are here: All the Love February.

Journaling Tip of the Week (Take it or Leave it)

Do you feel unheard or overlooked? I know this can be challenging as it plays out in real time. But the beauty of the journal is that it becomes a safe haven for your self-expression. A place to work out your emotions and thoughts, honing the clarity needed and distance sometimes needed as well, to communicate well with others. The reason is that understanding ourselves better allows us to understand others better. Taking the time when you feel overlooked or unheard to vent in private on paper is a better bet than going public when emotions are high. Our culture could certainly use a bit more withholding of opinion and biting one’s tongue. Free speech is one thing, but the murky waters of slanderous accusations freely pouring out from too many talking heads have polluted the whole of news and social media. Where can one retreat? Because if you aren’t careful, you will find yourself caught up in conversations that are neither edifying nor helpful. So yes to free speech, but moreso to the wisdom and discernment that know when to keep their words to themselves rather than share. That is the beauty of writing in a journal. It helps you to step back, take the time to clarify your thoughts, cool your emotions, and consider your words carefully. For those who pray, praying with the pen is a powerful way to listen to God and to fine-tune prayers.

Here’s a Hug (Encouragement for the Journey)

I am offering two powerful quotes for this last week attributed to St. Therese of Lisieux:

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

“When one loves, one does not calculate.”

Let’s Write (This Week’s Prompts)

Please give each prompt its own day this week, set the timer for 15 minutes after reading, and see where your pen leads. If you have more time or don’t feel the need for the timer, that is absolutely fine. There is no wrong way to approach your writing time. Only not to at all!

1. Scripture says, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). Write in your journal your honest response to the statement. You can start with I believe…or, I don’t believe…OR try Why I believe…or Why I don’t believe. Faith is a journey of discovery. Go on an expedition with your pen, be ready to explore, trusting your journal is a safe place to do so.
2. Write about a literary work (any genre) that you believe most closely reflects, reveals, or portrays love as you see it. Or a book that changed how you perceive love, or opened your eyes to something new about love. If your response seems limited, allow yourself to write about two pieces of work, perhaps fiction and non-fiction.
3. Write an Ekphrastic Poem on a Favorite Art Piece (Ekphrasis – “Description” in Greek). An ekphrastic poem is a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the “action” of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning (definition from The Poetry Foundation website). Don’t overthink it. Keep it simple, have fun. I know you will enjoy this if you give yourself permission to write about a piece of art you know or love, or an image that strikes you! Do you have a favorite painting or photograph in your home? Give it a try. Write an ode, ekphrastic poem, or write all the reasons why you love the piece of art!

Bonus prompts (As You Wish: Alternative OR Additional)

• Love for the Brethren (Journaling prompts from Scripture). Prayerfully read the passage below. Respond to it in your journal. Read and meditate on this verse for a few minutes, considering it with God. Then pick up your pen and prayerfully write.

Consider the Love of 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. The measuring stick of Christian love is Jesus Christ, God’s love made a perfect sacrifice for us. And this is what love looks like in flesh. Ponder it, and Him, the One, True God who became love that walked and talked among us, that we might know His love, and be forever with Him in glory by His sacrifice of love on the cross! When we measure ourselves against the perfect love of Christ, we (by His grace) are ever reminded of our need for Him who is the only one who ever can measure up to this description. God’s love alone is perfect. Yet by His very wounds we are made to be able to love like Him- a glimpse of His perfection, beauty, eternal glory. Ponder His love, grace, and beauty in the passage and respond with your pen: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (NIV)

• Photo/Quote Op (In case you are not feeling the love for this week’s prompts!) Respond to the images or the quotes included in this post. I have included two of each for our last week. As I searched once again for an image for this series, I was bombarded by images of physical love from the world’s perspective. How different love is in God’s eyes. I finally gave up the search and instead chose the angelic statue image, and the splintered, broken, bloody, bruised version of Love that I know is the real and true image of love. It may offend, but it is what I believe real love looks like. What does real love look like to you? Jesus Christ has completely changed my understanding of what love is and what it is not. It is completely beyond my comprehension, yet it is within reach because of Jesus. I hope you will ponder these things with me this day. Meanwhile, take up your pen!

Thank you for being here for this month’s All the Love journaling series. I hope you have been inspired to write, reflect, ponder, and pour out your heart on paper. May you be enlightened, edified, and encouraged as you continue to journal your journey!

Enthusiastically, Dawn