Writing is an important part of my life. It helps me more than it helps others. It compels me to think more deeply, pray, and reflect. I analyse and see patterns and relationships between ideas and happenings. As I write, new layers of feelings unfold and new shades of meaning glisten. My thought process is improved, and my insights crystallised.

I write mainly in my journal. It is at least once a week, sometimes more, and every day if I am in a silent retreat. I write a reflection about where God has been present in my week. I give thanks. I give thanks. I speak in tongues, pray for interpretation, and write whatever comes to mind. I list what I prayed for, and more recently began a monthly prayer list, that I will bring to the Lord during that month, and look back at past months to record answers to prayer and questions I ask the Lord about.

I write less in my blog. I used to write every other day in my blog about everything under the sun. Nowadays, I wonder what to write. “Lord, what shall I write about? Shall I write about such and such?” If there was an event I went to, I would find it easy to write about. A retreat, a conference, a church I preached in, a cycling jaunt – I find it easy to report. Self-disclosure is tougher.

I also deposit chapters of a book I plan to write in my blog. It would be my first drafts that I later collate, edit or rewrite into a book. I did this with my recent work: “The 26 Gifts of Christ’s Finished Work”. You can see my first drafts by searching: “A to Z of Christ’s Finished Word” (the original title) and compare it with what ended up in print.

I write my sermon scripts. Most times, they are full manuscripts. This method helps me clarify ideas, order my thoughts logically and familiarise myself with the vocabulary I will use, before I stand to speak from the pulpit with minimal reference to the script. It also helps me see the forest from the individual tree. I can then move about the various elements (explanations, illustrations, quotations, main ideas, images) in the sermon as I see fit.

I also write to my Primary school granddaughters. They are overseas. I email them and they write back. Hopefully, it improves their writing skills as they do that. Our over-reliance on technology and AI may make writing and editing an endangered skill.

It is God’s grace at work that the feeble words I use can bless, encourage and inspire those who read my blog posts or book, hear my sermons and teachings, and read about grandpa’s mundane happenings in life.