All is write with the world.

A heart-stopping drama is portrayed in the Gospel of John 8:1-11 -- the story of a woman caught in adultery. There is a life or death challenge for Jesus to decide. And the story unrolls with a little-noticed example for Christians.

Jesus writes on the ground. What can this mean for us? Bible scholars believe that John's is the last of the gospels, written about ten or so years after the authors of Mark, Matthew, and Luke.

The author of John's gospel, in the story of the woman caught in adultery, provides not only a lesson of divine mercy, but also a lesson in writing on the ground. We can explore this writing and compare it to the Old Testament handwriting on the wall.

The story begins when Jesus arrives at the temple after a visit (or perhaps an entire restless night) on the Mount of Olives. This lends importance to the story. Footnotes tell us that the Mount of Olives is not mentioned anywhere else outside Passion week.

For me this suggests Jesus is seeking comfort high in the rocky garden among the cool, silver-leafed, gnarled trees. Has his life reached a point of intensity that is painful?

After Jesus arrives, many townspeople take time from their busy schedules and deadlines to learn from him. Jesus may be eager to teach the willing listeners: men, women, teens, and children, sitting and staring up at him in the dusty morning sunshine. He may feel at home in the stone-walled temple area, "his father's house." Perhaps he will find success with some of these people. Perhaps they -- we -- will learn from him. However, he is interrupted.

The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman before Jesus "caught in the very act of adultery." Adultery is a two-person offense. Nevertheless only one person is held accountable: the woman. Hypocrisy and sexism are not new.

The poor, bedraggled, half-dressed woman stands before the curious crowd. Her spotlight is the morning sun; her accusers surround her like sharks smelling blood. This is the stuff of soap operas. The crowd is wide-awake now, thrilled to be present, eager to run and tell neighbors about this happening. The gleeful righteous Pharisees and scribes now bait Jesus.

If the law of Moses commands them to stone her, should they do it? they ask Jesus. What does this lawbreaking rabbi who dares to relieve suffering by healing on the Sabbath (John 5:1-18) have to say? They think they have him trapped now. They think he is not macho enough to obey the law of Moses, the very basis of their tradition.

At first Jesus says nothing;; all the people in the crowd can hear is scratching -- a scratching in the gritty tan soil as Jesus writes with his finger on the ground. This gesture is reminiscent of the Old Testament. In the Book of Daniel at a banquet in King Belshazzar's palace, "the fingers of a human hand appeared writing on the plaster of the wall" (Dan. 5:5). The terrified king seeks astrologers and enchanters to translate. However, only the Jewish exile, Daniel, can read the writing.

Daniel scolds the king for being arrogant and hard-hearted, worshiping idols, looting and killing like his father, King Nebuchadnezzar. At his banquet the king has wrongfully used the gold and silver vessels stolen from the Jews, temple in Jerusalem.

The three words written, "Mene," Tekel," and "Peres," foretold the end of King Belshazzar and his kingdom (Dan. 5:25-30).

In the New Testament story, John says "Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger." Again we have the fingers of a human hand writing.

This is the only instance to my knowledge of Jesus writing. What does he write? If it's a warning, as the handwriting on King Belshazzar's wall was, we don't know. Perhaps it is a reference to Jermiah 17:13 sometimes translated as: "Those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water."

Or is Jesus simply too weary to speak? Is he so angry with this legalistic trap that he writes to calm himself? Has he been interrupted in his teaching at an important point?

The prologue of John's gospel calls Christ Logos or the Word -- an expression of love through the Holy Spirit. The Word becomes flesh. Now Jesus, the Word, writes.

Could the woman caught in adultry read his writing? Although not many women were literate at this time, I like to think that this woman of Jerusalem has learned to read. Do the words comfort her? Do the Pharisees and scribes read his writing?

It appears not to have immediately changed their hearts because they demand an answer. Shoving each other aside, one after another challenges him. The story says Jesus "straightened up and said to them, `Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her'" (John 8:7).

Then he resumes writing on the ground. Why does he continue writing? Had he perhaps been pondering possible answers for these men? Now is he giving them time to think? Jesus' patience and mercy are apparent. What can we learn from his writing?

Through Jesus' action we learn that writing can illuminate our thoughts, our feelings, our being. If reluctance keeps you from writing, speak into a tape recorder, and listen to your words. When you use the pause button, thinking as you listen, the result is the same.

Young and old, we all have a story to tell. Every life is a unique pilgrimage. When we write in notebooks or record tapes, our thoughts and the deepest stirrings of our hearts are eventually revealed. Later, when we read or listen to what has been written, we may gain perspective on our lives. Have we grown or deteriorated? What do we think of ourselves? Do we respect ourselves as well as respect others?

It's tragic how often Christians took part in holy wars, inquisitions, witch burnings, slavery, the Holocaust. In writing we can explore our feelings about white, black, Native American, Asian, Latino, disabled, differently abled, rich, poor, gay, lesbian, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, Protestant, homeless, panhandler, or mentally ill persons -- all God's children. Where are we flawed? How can we educate ourselves to be more sensitive?

I remember writing a bitter letter to clear my mind. A day later when I read it, I was embarrassed at my one-sided, selfish, ignorant view. Gratefully I tore up that letter and with it my resentment and anger.

Once during a retreat we were asked to write down on paper our disappointments with life. Then we walked out that cloudy afternoon to burn the folded pieces of paper on a glowing charcoal grill. As my heartaches caught fire and blew away as wisps of gray ash, I began the process of releasing them from my mind. It's always a process, this forgiving, isn't it? The writing in that retreat was a powerful exercise.

Keeping diaries, journals, log books, or tapes is a way of examining our lives. Socrates said that the unexamined life isn't worth living. What changes do we need to make? Our past often sheds light on our present.

Thoughts go around and around in our heads, but writing them on paper or recording them ties them down. Then, reading or listening to our words, we can wonder, dare, dream, or scream. Sometimes when life is too painful for prose, I write poetry and hide the pain in simile and metaphor. Besides a journal, I keep a poetry notebook.

A friend keeps a prayer journal. During a threatened miscarriage that ended in losing her child, she saw herself grow in grace and acceptance over the three or four months. The Confessions of Saint Augustine is one-quarter story and three-quarters prayer addressed directly to God.

Family histories can be written for future generations. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles can write their childhood memories. Each family member can tell stories of people, places, and happenings that will be valuable for others.

Writing, as Christ showed, can be an avenue of grace. However, both saints and tyrants write. Beware of whether your writing expands your life toward love or shrinks your life in hatred.

If you begin writing in anger, continue to probe for the truth until you arrive at a more positive view. Pray in your writing. Question yourself on the page. Especially when you don't feel kind, explore your life with honesty and humility.

Perhaps the crowd surrounding Jesus does read some word of his writing that affects them because "they went away one by one." I love the description of the people leaving, beginning with the elders. With age we grow in wisdom; at least I like to think so. Or, if it isn't wisdom, is it that older people have accumulated more sins? Oops!

As soon as they are alone, Jesus straightens up and speaks to the woman. "Has no one condemned you?" he asks. "No one, sir," the woman replies. "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more" (John 8:10-11).

Remember, stories in John's gospel are used to teach something about Jesus. While his merciful forgiveness reveals his divinity, his use of writing reveals his humanity.

Taking up a pen for finger, some paper for earth, can we be wrong to write?

Harriette Gillem Robinet, an African American, Roman Catholic, wife, mother, grandmother, Bible student, and author of historical fiction for middle-grade children.