Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12-17 (NIV)
What is Reflective Writing?
Writing reflectively involves critically
analysing an experience, recording how it has impacted you and what you plan to
do with your new knowledge. It can help you to reflect on a deeper level as the
act of getting something down on paper often helps people to think an
experience through.
The key to reflective writing is to be
analytical rather than descriptive. Always ask why rather than just describing
what happened during an experience.
https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/reflectivepracticetoolkit/reflectivewriting
A Personal Reflection
I am writing this blog post a
few days after bidding farewell to a dear friend who fell asleep in the Lord. Her
repose, funeral, and burial reminded me of the brevity of this life. Please
permit me to share this reflective message with you. Perhaps readers will find
my words helpful when you encounter challenges in life and reflect on them.
Embrace Your Why
Sometimes when I write,
the words hesitate to make their way on to the page. They reflect this writer.
There are times I hesitate to make my way into the world. When these times
occur, I must remember and give close attention to a constant reality no one
can change. God loves the world.
I doubt I will ever change the
world. I can, however, write with the hope, in deep faith, God might use my
words to bring a change to someone else. This is why in my simple way I write…
I write…until then.
Undeterred
The repose of my friend, along
with health challenges I now live with, leave me undeterred in my journey as a
writer. These experiences are a sober reminder of the fragility of my days and
how each day I live is a gift from God. Such a gift is not chopped up and
thrown aside to rot under the heat of the sun like a weed. This gift is to be
allowed to bloom as a vibrant flower. As a man and a writer, the fragility of
life is not a reason to shrivel away but to remain undeterred in one’s calling.
With God’s help, I am undeterred until then.
Until then?... What is the
significance of until then? What is this “until then?”
Until Then
I do not dwell on it, but I am
cognizant of the fact I have more days behind me than I do ahead of me in this
life. I am not aware of how God has numbered my days, yet I pray the time I
have will be lived for His glory. Words in my head and heart cannot wait to
leap on to a page and my fingers wait undeterred to write. I still have words
to share with those who choose to read them.
I will write for as long as
God calls me to write. “Until then,” will be when the words no longer come.
Until then, will come when my body wears out. Until then, will be when this
life of mine passes into the next. Until then…
Dear ones, embrace the days God gives you…until then.
“But
until then my heart will go on singing,
Until
then with joy I'll carry on,
Until
the day my eyes behold the city,
Until
the day God calls me home.”
- “Until
Then,” by Stuart Hamblen, 1958.
Alan lives in a small village
called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle,
Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around,
where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for
FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian
Writers’ Fellowship blog. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.
Thank you, Alan Anderson, for this reflective and contemplative writing. This is Sharon Espeseth, and I can so identify with your written words. This is a keeper, if that is all right with you.
ReplyDeleteDear Sharon, hello my friend whom I have never met in person. I am honoured you can identify with my reflective words. Yes, please feel free to do what you like with this message.
DeleteThank you, dear Alan, for beautifully encouraging us to continue writing "until then."
ReplyDeleteI love how you remind us to analyze and not just describe. Deep journaling facilitates a deeper awareness of God and His wisdom.
Blessings.
My friend, I enjoy "expressive writing," but I like to go deeper with "reflective writing". You are right in your recognition of how we can go deeper in awareness of God and His wisdom. Blessings to you, Wendy.
DeleteThere is a lot to ponder here, Alan... I was struck by the necessity to ask "Why?" when writing reflectively, not just focusing on how one feels... Excellent.
ReplyDeleteDear Tracy, yes, the "Why?" is important as we reflect on a situation, or experience, as well as "How" this experience affected us, and "What" we can learn from the experience. Thank you, my friend.
DeleteThanks, Alan. These words - “ These experiences are a sober reminder of the fragility of my days and how each day I live is a gift from God.” - have been on my own heart recently. Wonderful post from the heart once again and with practical help as well. Blessings to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon, and thank you for taking the time to comment on my thoughts. Blessings to you and your family.
DeleteThank you, Alan, for sharing your heart with us. I had not heard of Reflective Writing as a practice and find it intriguing. Truly, life is fragile and it is important to remember to "number our days". Blessings on you today, Alan.
ReplyDeleteDear Lorrie, reflective writing is worth practicing if you want to analyze an experience and write about the matter. I use reflective writing as a way of writing deeper on a matter from my point of view. I encourage you to try it out, my friend. Blessings to you, Lorrie.
DeleteThank you, Alan, for sharing a message to "reflect" on. Often what you write resonates with my own thoughts ... this in particular, "I doubt I will ever change the world. I can, however, write with the hope, in deep faith, God might use my words to bring a change to someone else. This is why in my simple way I write… I write…until then." If we can occupy this earth with usefulness and gladness, we won't have lived in vain. Until then, my friend!
ReplyDeleteValerie, when I read your words, I also feel them. Yes, usefulness, gladness, and thankfulness, my friend. Blessings to you, Valerie.
DeleteThanks, Alan, for reminding us that wrestling with the "Whys" is a necessary component to deeply reflective writing. I related to your analogy: "This gift is to be allowed to bloom as a vibrant flower," and to "remain undeterred in one’s calling." With God’s help, I am undeterred until then."
ReplyDeleteDear Sandi, yes, life can throw curves at us and give us cause to pause and reflect. Our "Why" is important to grab hold of and hopefully help us be undeterred...until then.
DeleteThanks Allen for this reflective piece. I’m sorry about the loss of your friend, and yes these times bring our frailty into focus. As long as we have words and a pen let’s write “until then”! For their sake and our own!
ReplyDeleteDear Mary, yes, we write until then. We are in this life together and not ready to put down our pens.
DeleteThis is an excellent reminder of both the brevity of life and the importance of continuing in faith until He comes and calls us home. "Undeterred" is such a strong word, Alan; it expresses commitment, endurance, and fortitude. This is the life of the one who seeks to follow Christ!
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, yes, undeterred is a strong word and so are people of faith in God.
ReplyDelete