I love letters. I love Hallmark. I love the Post Office. When I was younger my grandfather told me that if I wanted to receive letters in the mail, I should send them. People can't help but write back to a handwritten note. Perhaps the single greatest piece of practical wisdom I can remember. My friend Jessica in Florida and I constantly wrote letters back and forth, and I still have many of the letters we exchanged. I laugh when I read through what we thought was important, and what we shared on pages on lined paper covered in stickers.
Participating in Emmaus in High School and beyond I received many poignant and important letters from people that love me. My first weekend I remember reading some of the sentiments and wanting to remember the way that holding the piece of paper in my hands made my heart feel forever. In continuing to work on the Retreat weekends the letters continued, and having collected favorites from that time-I will sometimes find myself sitting on my bed and pouring over some and remembering.
I also have a collection of cards, emails, and letters that connect me to someone very important in my life. They are a bridge between two lives that never really met face to face. Of all the things I own, and all of the blessings I have received from that relationship- those cards and letters are my most treasured.
When I traveled last year I did not call home much. I can't say there was only one particular reason for not calling, but I know that I did not find myself picking up the phone and placing the call first. But what I did do, was write postcards, cards, and emails- trying to remain connected to home in a different way. I know that scattered across homes of those I sent love in the mail to, in private drawers, bags, and boxes live moments I shared with friends and special thoughts written on a page.
While watching a movie on Tuesday- the notion of postcards and letters took me by surprise. I was caught off guard, and I was taken aback by my emotional reaction to the written form and its role in the movie. In the days since watching the film, I have thought often to the two phrases spoken, "Write me postcards everywhere you go", and more significantly, "He wrote me letters". The two things don't convey much in writing them here, but my heart knows that they meant and in it there is an aching and a sense of comfort I can't describe easily.
I have written letters of forgiveness, seeking in another Grace for a wrong I have done.
I have written letters of assertion, seeking to be heard about something I did not trust to speak verbally.
I have written letters to those telling someone how they've hurt me, seeking to let go.
I have written letters to Christ, seeking His wisdom and plan.
I have written letters to those I love, seeking to encourage them and thank them for their love.
Letters. "Let us never underestimate the power of a well written letter."
It's true. There have been letters I have received that have completely changed my life.
Often joked about between a friend and I... "say what you need to say"-- I know that I have heard great things in amazing conversations, and I have felt great love from those I have been blessed with. But I also know that the truest and most bold professions of love and friendship have come in the form of someone putting their heart on a page, and given it to me to hold.
I know that in the next few weeks and all the change I'm about to seek and secure- I will find myself sitting quietly scribbling letters to the Lord in my journal about what I am experiencing. And I am going to write emails to those who want to know how they can pray for my heart in the distance. But I also know, that there will be letters I will want to write trying desperately to connect my heart to another missing their presence... and that I will want to hold things back, because I will want to let go. In this month away I am taking a few letters with me- I am hoping that they will remind me to continue the language of love that I have so been impacted by through my entire life.
I hold letters and pictures as my most beloved gifts. I have boxes of both, and in them I am reminded that life continues and we change, and are changed.
Write more letters.
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