One of my first trips to Israel was a field study course I took at Dallas Theological Seminary. In addition to studying Carl Rasmussen’s excellent atlas, the course required I journal daily on my tour.
When I first read the requirement to journal daily on tour, I rolled my eyes. Really? First of all, I never really journaled before. What’s more, wasn’t I there to study the land of Israel? I wanted input, not output. What good would journaling do?
To my surprise, the benefits were huge. So much so, I have journaled every time I’ve gone to Israel—even for those tours I helped to lead.
Here are 3 benefits I’ve discovered that journaling can give you on your Holy Land tour.
Especially on your first journey to the Holy Land, you’ll experience the fire-hydrant syndrome. So much information will come at you so fast, you’ll never be able to drink it all in. Your head can only hold so much. A journal removes that limitation.
Your journal gives you a place to record the emotions you feel each day—and helps you connect your head with your heart. You will glean many spiritual insights from your Holy Land tour—more than you can imagine.
Plus, jotting down your thoughts, feelings, and emotions gives them a crock pot to “cook” in and develop into something you can chew on later. (I thought about using the cow and cud metaphor, but that’s kind of gross.)
Some travelers prefer to journal electronically (like me) and carry a laptop, tablet, or voice recorder with them.
Others prefer the tactile experience of pen and paper. Either way works. The best journal is the one you’ll use.
Whether you go tech or tactile, several suggestions will help:
My personal journal gave its richest benefits after returning from my Holy Land tours. I think you’ll find the same true of your experience. Your personal journal and the notes you took on site will be one of your most treasured takeaways from your journey.
Journaling gives you a reservoir to capture the experiences of your head and heart. Wayne Stiles
In years to come, you can reread your personal Holy Land journal and apply its lessons to real life all over again.
After all, God revealed them to you for a reason—to change your life.
Tell me what you think: What other benefits can journaling on a Holy Land tour offer? To leave a comment, just click here.