Storying

Stories speak. Read them in a book, and you connect. See the storyline in a movie and it captures you completely. Am I the only one who has this happen? 

This particular one clearly illustrated some of what was going on in real life for me, and what was going on emotionally in response to what was happening. The timing of this movie I watched with school kids who had earned it through good behavior had to have a Divine finger on it.

Stories are moving. I ended up going to the bridge later to cry it out. It moved a piece I needed to process right out into the open. And in the crying out to God, healing happened.

I have been challenged by a friend to tell more stories instead of statistics or facts. People connect with story.

I don't know about most of you, but I live one of those lives that has story happening at multiple layers at once, often interconnected with other parts.

In Counseling 101, we often asked “What's stirring?" meaning 'what is emotionally feeling live current right now? Let's talk about it.' There's that layer.

Then there's the many different relationships with people around us happening simultaneously. Some of those go well, others feel shaky, and others feel like impending train wrecks. Stories.

Spiritual warfare and growth also are another layer of story. God keeps teaching and showing us things and giving insights on this level. More tales to tell.

Wrap it all in one, and we call it life. 

Good things happen when we tell stories to each other. Connection takes place.

 When we tell Good Stories even better things take place. When we repeat them, retell them and pass them on to our friends, that is when it plants seeds of truth, and deepens our own faith because we remember the Good that has happened. When story touches emotions and our spirits, it has a beautiful opportunity to transform our lives.

I am challenged to tell more about the good things that are happening with those around me, to share more about the internal processing of spiritual and emotional things, or the remarkable chronicle of details that God is scripting to give me another gift, not in online forums, but face to face. To just pour coffee, and let the words flow.

Just like the movie showed a dog finding her way home while meeting a lot of friends along the way, so we can help others not just on our way Home, but help them find their way Home as well by telling stories.

More stories happen as we navigate from one scene to another, and process the chapter change.   It’s not easy, but just like the dog felt the strong, internal invisible pull to find her way home, so we also feel like we are not home yet, and need to keep going, regardless of how difficult the journey is.

Hope to see you at Home.