Nancy Wilson published a couple of blog posts about the practice of journaling (Read Part 1 http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/07/06/journal-keeping/ here and Part 2 http://www.feminagirls.com/2011/07/11/journal-keeping-part-2-3/ here ). In general, she doesn't think it a healthy practice, as it tends toward self-indulgence. She includes blogging as a form of journaling, and I think the way many people use social networking sites would also qualify.
The comments are interesting- especially those who believe that chronicling their trials, temptation, and even their sins help them process and deal with them. Some think that the Psalms and Proverbs are a form of journal-keeping, and that the private writings of people such as David Brainerd and Amy Carmichael are of benefit to us now.
What do you think about the practice of journal keeping in general, and blogging about one's private struggles in particular?
susan, i've been thinking about this for a while
I've kept journals since I was a child. they are very helpful to my spiritual life and growth. I remember as a teen, in the angst of emotions, writing it down, then writing myself into the truth. It was very helpful. Even as an adult, in the pain of trials, writing my experience and lining it up with the truth helps me a lot.
I think it was the puritans, maybe, who used journals as a record of God's work in their lives to look back upon, and I'm very glad we have access to them today.
I guess if someone just writes to wallow in their issues, not trying to apply truth to them, or misapplying truth, it could be a problem.
About blogging . . . dunno. Making these things interactive is not helpful in some ways, although in other ways it could be. I think it all depends how it's done and the maturity of the writer . . . I'm vascillating. Generally, from a mature person, they can be very helpful, like Wendy Alsup's stuff, for example.
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