In his book, Journey with Jesus: Discovering the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, Larry Warner has these tips for journaling: "Journal as you can, not as you think you should. Journaling needs to flow out of your creative, free self without restraint, fear or performance anxiety. Seek to approach journaling as a child entering into a time of mystery, a time when you are not sure whas will happen yet you are excited about the possibilities. It is best to approach journaling as a dynamic adventure, seeing where it leads you, rather than as a prescribed, static act. Write as little or as much as you like, but also feel free to draw, paint for make collages. Do not worry about spelling, sentence structure, grammar and the like. Experiment with different ways of journaling: write in crayon with your nondominant hand, write prayers, paraphrase a passage, write a letter to God, write a letter from God, paint, use clay. The possibilities are endless, so give yourself permission to explore and experiment as you journal. I suggest that, as you journal, you have on hand a box containing colored markers, pencils, crayons, construction paper, a glue stick, a pair of scissors or even watercolors. Sometimes images and colors communicate what words cannot. Also, the use of art can release emotions that are hard for you to get in touch with or communicate. Do not use the excuse that you are not good at art. Instead give it a go, focusing on God's grace and love rather than on your perceived weakness. See God as your heavenly Parent, who receives your art project with great joy and delight, not because of your skill but because of God's great love of you and delight in you... Step out and have fun, not trying to be a great artist but entering into and enjoying the creative process, knowing whatever you end up with is received by God as a precious expression of your heart and thus cherished by God and firmly affixed on the gigantic refrigerator of heaven." (Try it!)

Posted by Jamie Bonilla at 2023-08-30 20:30:52 UTC