For several years now, I’ve been taking a solo retreat in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. I’ve been going somewhere small and remote and…pink.
The bathroom is cold. The wifi is nonexistent. The non-stick pans stick. It’s perfect.
I always look forward to the solitude and reflection time it affords.
Once there, a big part of my process includes reviewing all of my journals for the year. I jot down things that strike me as I re-read them anew. I’m able to notice patterns and themes I missed when I was preoccupied with the hustle and bustle of daily life.
It’s kind of like watching the movie of my life that God put together for the year. In this metaphor, I’m like an actor in a big-budget film. I know all my lines and what my scenes looked like, because I was in them. I generally know how the movie is coming together.
But this retreat is like the big premiere, when the actor gets to see the final picture, with all the edits, special effects, sound mixing, and the score in place. I get to see the story God put together, as He intended it.
As I process His handiwork, my dialogue with Him goes something like this:
“Wow, I love what you did with this scene, and how you tied it in to the thing at the beginning and at the end. I mean, I remember filming it, and it felt pretty rough at the time. It seemed like a disaster, in fact. But wow, you really elevated it.”
Sometimes I look back at previous years (the prequels) and am amazed at how there were story elements that showed up and plot threads from the previous installments that were tied up in this one.
It becomes clear that God really is the master storyteller. There’s tragedy and comedy, heroes and villains, horrifying moments and heartfelt ones. There are no loose ends. Nothing wasted. Every scene means something.
This is true of each of our lives, of course. But the practice of recording things along the way, and then reviewing them in a quiet space later, is what enables me to see the story more clearly.
As we near the end of the year, I challenge you to carve out a little time to reflect deeply on all that transpired in your life: the wins, the losses, and the lessons you learned.
And if you don’t have one already, I encourage you to start up a simple journaling practice, even if it’s just a short paragraph a day. Or a single line. Whether you choose a hardbound journal (these are my favorites), a smaller notebook that can fit in your pocket, or just use the Notes app on your phone, it’s an invaluable way to capture some of the details that we forget when we’re busy navigating the hurricane of life.
This tradition I’ve maintained has become a gratifying way to end the year. Not only do I get to relive some of the highlights, stoking a deep sense of gratitude, but I’m also able to see how God was able to use even the lowlights for good.
And then I get really excited for the sequel to come out.
Of course, He’s been at this a long time, from seas parting to prison sentences turning into providence, from virgins giving birth to a king born in a stable. I won’t win any awards for my performance, but I’ll line up to see anything this director puts out.
Pass the popcorn…I can’t wait to see what the Master Storyteller has up his sleeve next!
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