How do you capture important conversations?
In the busy world in which we live, it’s easy to have a fantastic conversation and then let it pass into the ether, forgotten in minutes. But what if there was a better way, a more intentional way of remembering the contents of that conversation?
It’s no secret that I’m a proponent of spiritual direction. After all, I’ve benefited from it since I was in college. While not all of my directors have been stellar, the vast majority have been good, holy men who spoke into my life.
A system that’s worked for me for the past few years is quite simple and goes like this:
In the busy world in which we live, it’s easy to have a fantastic conversation and then let it pass into the ether, forgotten in minutes. But what if there was a better way, a more intentional way of remembering the contents of that conversation?
It’s no secret that I’m a proponent of spiritual direction. After all, I’ve benefited from it since I was in college. While not all of my directors have been stellar, the vast majority have been good, holy men who spoke into my life.
A system that’s worked for me for the past few years is quite simple and goes like this:
- I keep a folder inside Apple Notes called “Spiritual Direction”.
- To prepare for upcoming sessions, I have a note labeled “Next Session”; inside that note, I can add items that I’ll want to talk about when I meet with my director; as the month goes on, more items are added (a thought here, a concept there, a question, a musing, etc.).
- After a session is complete, I make a note with the date; inside that note I add summary points from our conversation.
None of this takes much time or effort. It’s just enough of a structure that allows me to ramp up for a session and then honor the conversation afterwards through the summary note.
This process also allows me, in a small but meaningful way, to honor what God is doing in my life. It’s good to occasionally look back and see something that God did a few months ago or a new spiritual insight, etc.
How about you? How do you memorialize and honor the work God is doing in your life?
-Mike