Ecclesiastes 3 has always meant something to me—its poetry, its permission to live all of life. In fact, I used the 28 “times” mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3 as the 28 chapter titles for Found Art.

Using those same “times,” I created 28 writing prompts for you. These can be prompts you use in your own personal journal or prompts that help you get writing again. Prompts to inspire a blog post or a dinnertime conversation. Regardless, they are little portals into your soul that just might help you show up to life.

Choose one that resonates and keep your pen moving.

First, the inspiration . . . Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to break down and a time to build up,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to turn away,

a time to search and a time to quit searching,

a time to hold on and a time to let go,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

And now, the prompts:

I am experiencing the birthing pains of . . .

I’m desiring the death of . . .

A planted life is . . .

The last time I was uprooted, I . . .

I wish I could kill . . .

Healing would require . . .

I believe in breaking down . . .

Building up is an act of . . .

Today, I laughed at . . .

I began to weep when . . .

I am mourning the loss of  . . .

If I could dance anywhere, I’d dance . . .

Gathering is like . . .

If I could scatter anything, I would scatter . . .

What is keeping me from embracing . . .

I would experience freedom if I would turn away from . . .

I’m searching for . . .

I want to quit searching for . . .

I need to hold on to . . .

I need to let go of . . .

I was torn when . . .

Mending requires . . .

I need to speak up about . . .

I can find moments of silence when . . .

I love to . . .

I often find myself hating . . .

I am at war with . . .

Peace will arrive when . . .

Remember, just keep your pen moving.