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July 04, 2005
timeless letters
It's been a long time since I've sat down to write a good, long letter. Growing up (and often still) my letters were filled with the happenings of yesterday and today. What I did, where I went, who I saw. But now, it seems those things are quickly spouted off in an e-mail that can be written and read in a matter of minutes. This seems to be e-mail's place. Quick communication containing time bound information.
If my e-mails are containing the time bound information, it seems my letters should contain the timeless information. As I've tried to figure out what timeless letters look like I've been reminded of two quotes. The first being Corrie Ten Boom describing the letter writing of her mother:
When Mama wasn't supplying the neighborhood with caps and baby dresses from her flying needles, she was composing cheery messages for shut-ins all over Haarlem.
And the second was someone's remark that a friend's letter writing reminded them of an epistle because of their encouragement and reminder of God's promises.
As I wrote letters today, I was reminded of the desire once more to write letters with timeless content. So instead of my normal who, what and where, I tried to write more about what I was thinking through, struggling with and hoping for. They were far from epistles and don't think I was successful at cheering anyone up. But it was my attempt to write in an enduring way.
I want my letters to encourage others and be epistle-like in their longevity. To have someone sifting through boxes of old letters two, ten, or fifty years from now and to be encouraged by what they've read because they relate to the similar thoughts, struggles and hopes while being reminded of God's promises.
processing | By charity | 11:31 AM
Comments
That's the way that I try to approach my journal entries. And yes, I think that writing about the themes of your life makes for letters that are more interesting.
(Unless, of course, you are in a location that people have very little understanding of.)
Posted by: andy at July 4, 2005 05:35 PM
That's what I always wanted my letters to be--you know the ones I wrote you all in high school? You know...the ones we laughed at years later? :) Thank goodness time marches on and so do our thoughts!
Posted by: Bryonie at July 5, 2005 05:08 PM