PROCESSING
“How do I know what I think—till I see what I say?” The words spilled forth from my friend with whom I’d been chatting. We’d not spoken for some time, but each time we do, I take note. With pen and paper, I write down each morsel of wisdom spoken. Once our conversation has ended, I head to my computer, type them out, and tuck them away to be used as needed.
Today was no different. Out her words poured and jot each one down I did. What else did I note beside the opening quote which I’m certain she’d stored in her memory banks from an article read or class taken? I noted the books she’d drawn on to capture the ideas she was sharing. She spoke of letting the mind wander, allowing thoughts to land where they will, and how important it was to pay attention to which thoughts stand out more than others. “What you think about is where your heart is,” she said. “Those thoughts perhaps need to be addressed.”
She spoke about imaginary boxes we can conjure up in our minds to place within things we need not immediately address. Giving ourselves permission to set those boxes aside so we might be present is important. In other words, to be present is important not only for ourselves, but for those with whom we are sharing our current space. To hear His still small voice and the voice of others rather than our own thoughts running helter-skelter is important. She explained that we need not remove all those boxes completely from our lives, but we can set them aside so our wandering thoughts won’t meander so far off course. Just storing away things that take up our brain space is always a good idea—as it allows us to go back and visit when time allows.
She spoke gentle tones in love as I continued to listen.
My friend shared a name for the thought processes we venture into that often end up serving as a means of distraction. The author she’d been reading referred to them as “curiositous” which is something we all have within us. We might call it being sort of snoopy, curious about other’s lives, etc. and thus we hold these distractions in many a form. Curiositous sounds gentler, kinder, almost sacred as if it’s something that needs praying attention to. The world is harsh enough without us placing the layers atop that become even more burdensome. Curiositous sounds like something to be aware of and confess as He redirects.
In the end, I’d like to go back to the beginning. “How do I know what I think—till I see what I say?” We laughed together because as a writer, I get it. Some people oral process by talking their thoughts aloud. Writers are much like that. Often, we start in one area and end up in another as the many strands of our thoughts make their way through and onto paper.
At the end of the conversation, my friend said something that made me take pause. She thanked me for sharing my thoughts! I’d been so busy taking notes that I do not remember contributing much of anything worthy of note. Proverbs 3:3 reminds us. “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you…write them on the tablet of your heart.” You see, we are all writers— tucking notes within until we are asked to pour them out into the hearts of others who are waiting to take note. Amen.
