my little black books

Yes, I use Moleskine brand notebooks

You may not think of it this way, but church registers of baptisms, weddings, and funerals are important historical documents.  Through the research of these registers, historians can discern everything from fertility rates to migration patterns to epidemics to divorce rates.  But that’s kind of cold and statistical.

I keep a personal record of baptisms, weddings, and funerals.  Every wedding that I officiate or assist in officiating, every person I baptize, and every burial that I am present for are recorded in three little black books.  Along with the basic information, I jot down some notes about these services as a way to remember them.

I keep these records partially for historical purposes, but also for spiritual purposes.  These three notebooks contain the joys and trials and blessings of a multitude of Christians.  Even though I have only been keeping these records for 8 months, already the pages are beginning to fill with the names and dates of these holy celebrations.

When I die, all the books on my shelf can be sold, given away, or kept to collect dust somewhere.  But I earnestly pray that somebody takes the time to look through these little black books, to see my chicken-scratch handwriting that has recorded these moments of the Holy Spirit, and to pray with me for these Christian souls whose names will never leave my books.