Stories
A few days ago, I was sitting in a car heading to New Jersey for a conference when my friend Megan asked to hear my story. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Your LOFT story,” she replied. We had both served on the LOFT team when we were students at Messiah College, albeit during different years. I paused to gather my thoughts and began. I talked for the next 80+ minutes sharing the highs and lows from my life, all with the purpose of being more known. On the return trip from the conference, other fellow travelers had opportunities to share their stories. All together we probably spent 4.5 hours telling and listening to stories. Story sharing was a key part of every LOFT team training. Each team member was given 45 minutes to share and everyone else had 15 minutes to ask questions. Stories take a long time to unpack, and in a culture that highly values efficiency, it may seem like a waste of time to slow down and listen to other people talk about their lives. My encounter with Megan caused me to ponder why stories are so important.
Stories have always been important to me. As I was growing up, I remember begging my parents for stories. I loved hearing about when they were my age. I could almost picture their adventures with their siblings and friends as they navigated growing up in a time much different in history. When we ran out of autobiographical stories, I would move into the world of fiction. I would request an “Animal Story” featuring: Daddy the dinosaur, Mommy the mongoose, Reece the rabbit, and Caleb (Kaleb) the Kangaroo (My dad likes alliteration). I could have listened to my parents tell stories forever but my love for stories didn’t stop with listening to them. I have always enjoyed watching dramatic interpretations of stories ether on stage, at the movies, or on TV. Furthermore, when I wasn’t enjoying someone else’s story, I was creating my own with the use of my imagination. I couldn’t get enough. Stories allow me to experience new things or visit new places with the use of just a little imagination. Stories allow me to gain understanding without the use of first-hand experience. I have a passion for sharing experiences with those around me and for learning. Experiencing stories is one of the easiest ways for me to do that. They are windows into understanding experiences that are not my own. The best educators that I have encountered are master storytellers. They possess the ability to paint word pictures that draw an audience in and help them understand what they can’t physically see. Stories are powerful tools that can lead to greater understanding.
As I continue to seek out an understanding of why stories are important, I examine my own experience with sharing and listening to life stories. First, sharing my story with people helps me come to terms with the areas of my life in which I am broken. This leads me to acknowledge my imperfections in the presence of God so that I can begin the process of healing. The second thing that comes from stories happens when I have the privilege of hearing others share. When others share with me, I am teleported into their pasts. Knowing where they have been helps me to understand who they are. It gives me a great deal of compassion for them as they work to heal from their pasts and it allows me to join in celebrating their growth. Knowing people in this way causes me to experience a wave of love for the individual. It often feels like I can see them as the beloved despite their brokenness.
Being entrusted with someone else’s story is a gift. What is done with that gift is up to the listener, who has been invited into a sacred space in someone else’s life. There is a new level of understanding and intimacy. If that gift is misused, the consequences can be catastrophic. Trust is hard to build but easy to lose. As opportunities arise to share, I encourage all to take advantage of them, and as stories are heard, steward them well.
