#11 Journaling

Besides slack lining, napping and reading Velvet Elvis, Younglifers love to do one thing everyday without fail: Journal. Usually a Younglifer will find a time during the day when the spirit is at its peak and that is when they will journal. This may be in the early morning hours of the day or in the evening when the sun is going town behind the cliff that they just free climbed. But whenever the time, it's always the right time. Journaling is usually paired with reading scripture from the bible. When the two occur at the same time in most cases large sections of scripture will be copied word-for-word from the bible to the journal. This way, if they are in a place where they want to preach the gospel or the story of David, they do not have to have their bible with them. This allows the Younglifer to be that "cool Christian" that doesn't care about the "institution" of the "church." Whatever that means. Ask a Younglifer.

Another important side factor about journaling is the actual journal itself. A Younglifer will most likely have one that is very unique and personalized in some way. This can be done with a paper composite pulp cover journal for a girl Younglifer. She will color it and draw multi-colored stick figures of her and her best friends (small group) inside a big red heart with another stick figure of God above them saying, "I Love You!" Guy Younglifers on the other hand will have a leather bound, gold leaf journal that was given to them by their old YoungLife leader or the wife of the man who disciples him. It will most likely have their initials on it and on the inside a "sweet" verse that will inspire him.

But, on the outskirts of Christianity, there are some rebel Younglifers who wear Toms shoes and Jorts and like to listen to Radiohead. They ride road bikes and like to say things like, "What does pursue even mean?" These are your Moleskine Younglifers. Moleskine is a journal/notepad company that has been making such products since Jesus was a boy.

Note: Jesus used a pocket Moleskine to draft the sermon on the mount.

Moleskines tell other Younglifers that, "Yeah Shane and Shane are OK, but Derek Webb really ties together my religious and political views." These Younglifers love to write and journal, but thats not all. They write short stories, poems and draw pictures of tattoos that their parents won't let them have until they are financially independent. They carry their Moleskine in their side bag ( SYL issue #5) at all times and love to read their latest epiphany to anyone who will listen. Most likely they will prefer to read it to non-christians seeing as how what they write is edgy and not for the home schooled.

Note: Moleskines are great gifts and are accepted by Younglifers everywhere, anytime.

Note: DO NOT EVER, FOR ANY REASON OPEN A MOLESKINE THAT BELONGS TO A YOUNGLIFER WITHOUT PERMISSION. If you do so, be prepared to know all about the girl/guy that they wish they were pursuing/being pursued by. And also how much they hate how money is still currency instead of the potatoes and tomatoes they are growing in their town home garden.