Have you ever found yourself searching for just the right thing, yet felt like nothing quite hit the mark? As a foreign exchanges student once said to us, “It’s good, but it’s not the one.”

One such search in my life was for a journal that met my needs. As a writer, observer, and life-long learner, I find journals a valuable aid to capturing the important, and the mundane, for future reference. As a person of faith and a pastor, I find journaling a tremendous tool for spiritual growth. Such a significant tool should meet my utilitarian needs, and prompt my creativity.

I’ve gone through a lot of journals. Leather and cardboard covers, hard and soft bound, ruled and blank, I used a bit of everything. I have a few favorites and, while many were enjoyable, I never found “the one,” until last week.

My wife mentioned a journal she thought I would like a few months ago. She saw it while searching for some planner options and thought I would like it. Called the Midori Traveler’s Notebook, it was a mid-sized leather journal with customizable refills and a number of accessories. She was very impressed. I was not. It had to be special ordered, seemed similar to what I already had, and after 30 years of searching, I expected it would be just one more journal for my shelves.

I was wrong. When I finally took a good look, I began to believe it might be exactly what I wanted. I took the risk, made the order, and received what I desired for years.

My first journal entry read, “After decades of searching for a journal that would truly inspire me, I found it! I cannot believe I did not see it for what it is when my wife first described it to me. Now, filled and ready, it awaits my stories, reflections, and insights. Poems, observations, and revelations from God are on their way. The adventure begins.”

I am not selling journals now, though some of you might find this an answer to your search as well. I am struck, however, by the significance of not giving up the quest. Jesus told his disciples, “seek, and you shall find.” He was focused on much deeper matters, but the similarities are interesting.

Sometimes, we settle for second best, or we give up on our search for what really matters. We often try a myriad of things along the way only to realize we still haven’t found the right way. Occasionally, someone comes along and points us in the right direction, but we let our past experiences keep us from seeing the truth.

Life is a journey, an adventure. There is so much to be enjoyed along the way, even our wrong choices can position us for something better. We need the voices of others, and of the Spirit, to guide us along the way, and most importantly, we must never give up!

There are already some significant spiritual reflections and discoveries in my new journal, but I keep celebrating how such a simple thing, can be a symbol of so much more. I can’t wait to see what I discover next!

May you be blessed upon your journey. May you be excited by the possibilities that lie ahead, and may you savor every moment of your adventure!