Do What You Can by Susan Barclay

 

I was hoping to refer back to a previously written post on the best writing advice I’d ever received. Unfortunately, if I wrote one, I wasn’t able to find it. Fortunately, I can still answer the question for this month’s prompt!

First, I agree with much of what’s already been shared by others here over the last two weeks, including (but not limited to) Alan’s, “keep writing,” and much from Brenda’s multi-point post. Carol’s “Do I really need those words?” reminds me of Stephen King’s admonition to “kill your darlings.” And I absolutely love Peggianne’s advice to “pray first.” So essential, though sadly I admit to often forgetting.

The best advice I received recently was in a response to my June 2024 contribution, R is for Retirement, where Alan shared, “I write regularly, but in a way that suits me. I know some of our dear writing friends write for so various hours per day, or every other day. I don't follow this pattern. I write according to my writing energy level on a particular day. There are days I can write for four to six hours, whereas some days only two or three. I am my timekeeper. If I have a deadline, say for our InScribe blog or something else, I make sure I meet the deadline with time to spare. The thing is, I do what I can and what I love in my writing.”

This model meets my needs in this current season as I am still providing 24/7 care to my elderly mom, whose birthday is today. I would tell you how old she is, but then she would have to kill me! I am not ready to stop writing for such a dramatic reason, LOL.

So, I aim to follow Alan's suggestions:

● I write as regularly as I can, “but in a way that suits me…according to my energy level.”
● I aim to meet the deadlines for InScribe Writers Online, with time to spare.
● “I do what I can and what I love in my writing.”

I’m thankful that while God equipped me with the gift and love of writing and wants me to use it, Christianity is not a works-based faith. He knows what’s going on in my life and He knows my heart. He doesn’t want me to beat myself up over something outside of my control (my available time and energy level in these trying days). While I wait for a time when I am free to write more, I trust His good reasons for extending this period of shared suffering. His ways and timing are perfect, even when we do not understand.

If you are going through a hard time where you feel your life is on hold, what advice do you give yourself?

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For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com.

Confessions of a Former Journalist by Susan Barclay

 

I guess I’m the first in this month’s series of posts to admit that I’m a former journalist, someone who used to keep a journal or diary. I received my first diary when I was about 8 or 9 years old, a green 5-year hardback with gold edges and a golden key and lock. I didn’t write in it much and not much is worth rereading. In high school I developed more of a journaling habit, encouraged by teachers who required us to keep them and which we wrote in school notebooks with lined paper.

I continued to maintain a regular journal through university and from time to time through my working, married, and parenting years. As others have said, it was a place to document and process key events in my life.

It was probably five years ago that I threw in the towel on keeping a journal.

Why?

Well, for one reason, sacrifice. I became a caregiver to my elderly mother as we brought her into our home after a fall. Although I certainly had more to write about and ponder, my time was no longer my own. I had to cater to my mother's needs, which involved a lot of jumping up and down, a variety of appointments, and was physically and mentally exhausting. I still had to keep up with part-time work (until I retired in June 2024) and the chores involved in running a home. I didn’t, and still don’t, have the bandwidth to journal as this caregiving journey continues.

I was tired of playing catch-up, which I had done throughout the years. Sometimes I’d be catching up on months-worth of life. It got to the point where I didn’t feel like doing that anymore. It was just too much.

There were other things I deemed more important than journaling. Things like administering online support groups, participating in two in-person book clubs, and helping to run our church’s 55+ group. In other words, connecting with people rather than paper. (Sometimes you can do both, as with writing for this blog!) And, of course, it’s also critical to maintain spiritual disciplines and that daily connection with God.

I had hoped, or thought, that this month’s blog challenge might lead me to resume journaling. As much as I’ve enjoyed reading the posts so far, it has not had that result. I have, however, been able to keep up with a couple of other daily activities, including Nicky and Pippa Gumbel’s 365-day express Bible plan on YouVersion and reading the daily “devotional,” Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting on God (John I. Snyder), and writing a prayer response. This is perhaps a variation on journaling.

Ironically, even as I gave up on keeping a daily life record, my husband started writing one. His entries are much as others have described, involving lament and reflection followed by praise. Our son has been keeping a journal for over a year now, though I don’t know anything about its contents or his process, other than he writes it on his laptop just like his dad.

I’ve rarely reviewed anything I’ve previously written and what happens to my existing journals when I’m gone does concern me. Someone mentioned leaving instructions for them to be burned unread; my “worry” is that such instructions may be ignored. Sometimes you write things that may be hurtful to others. Maybe it would be better to dispose of one’s journals before they can be read.

For me, the value of journaling is in the processing of things you’re going through. But life is also about living and I have found that journaling takes time away from that. Especially when time is so precious and "me-time" so limited.

When caregiving ends, I may regret not having kept a journal these last several years (after all, it would have provided much fodder for other writing, memoir in particular). I do hope to pick it up again if and when I’m not so weighed down. In the meantime, I’m happy to be writing anything at all.

If like me, you’ve given up journaling because life is just too busy to write about it, let’s trust and believe that this season too shall pass. And if not, remember, our stories are written in His book. Our lives matter whether or not they are written about anywhere else. We are part of history (His story) and we make a difference to the people around us. That is enough.

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For more about Susan and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com

His Eye is On the Sparrow by Susan Barclay

 

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

This verse begins the September writing prompt for Inscribers as we are asked to reflect on our writing journey so far this year and on our plans for the remaining months.

To be honest, the last few years have been challenging in almost every area, including writing. I am content, and consider it a win, to meet the monthly deadline for these blog posts!

It seems the remainder of this year is likely to be devoted to decluttering and packing up my mom’s house. She’s finally mentally and emotionally ready to tackle it; alas, not so much physically. She’s tired all the time now, so the bulk of the work is left to me. Her house has over 60 years’ worth of accumulation. Think about that and remember that she grew up during the Depression and war years! She doesn’t want to part with much, and even though I’m the one doing the physical labour, I’m trying to honour her wishes while praying the Lord loosens her grip on things, or that they lose their grip on her.

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us of the faithfulness of our God and that His “compassions” (in other translations His “mercies”) are new every morning. How thankful I am for these truths as I fluctuate between gratitude that I can help and support my mom (with my husband's assistance and blessing) and wishing that this “cup” would pass from me. I don’t even feel inspired to journal these days, sensing an interruption could come at any moment. Prayer is my greater focus, the spoken word I cannot do without.

One day, if Jesus tarries, I will have time to write with greater intensity and frequency, in greater quantity. For now, I yield myself to this season, letting my heart sing the words of an old hymn: “All I have needed thy hand hast provided; Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

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c. Susan Barclay, 2025. For more about Susan and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com