If your Lenten journey is like a song, is it being played out “lentamente” (slowly), “staccato” (abrupt), or “uptempo” (fast)? Is there a refrain emerging? The answer can be found by keeping a Lenten journal with a watchful eye toward the Holy Spirit’s tempo in your spiritual life.
One on occasion, St. Frances Cabrini wrote in her journal while on board a ship in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Holy Spirit is a sun whose light is reflected in just souls, a bottomless, shoreless ocean whose waters are beautiful, transparent, crystalline and life-giving, and flow continually and abundantly over souls who… do not oppose the Paraclete.
Journaling has been used by many adventurous pioneers, by travelers, spiritual pilgrims, sea captains, and soldiers gone to war. Now you too can watch for unique adventures of the heart. You can listen for the voice of Jesus pointing toward the greatest journey of all, the inner quest for love, for meaning and for new life with a capital “L”.
Here are some suggestions for surrender to the Spirit through Lenten journaling:
- Begin with an opening prayer to the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the road ahead.
- Enter a line or two from the Scriptures of the day, or from the writing of the saints that comforts or challenges you.
- Tell God what you are feeling and thinking. Consider writing a small part of your conversation. The act of writing illuminates areas of our lives that need the transforming touch of the Holy Spirit.
- End with a statement about what you believe, or an act of thanksgiving to God.
- Review your journal during Holy Week for perspective on the tempo of your Lenten journey towards Easter.