Tell Me A Story

Something I adore – being read to. I close my eyes and listen and am carried away by what I hear.

Story time at the library was an event very important to my sister-in-law. Her kids loved it, they are still addicted to books, and she had quiet time across the room on her own. They sat cross-legged on the floor, elbows on their knees and chin in their hands, eyes wide open, enthralled by what was unfolding word by word, page by page. Sinking into their minds were events, truths, facts, and details that will affect their thinking and in effect their lives. They love real life stories at bedtime with their Dad.

What is so important about our own story? In telling my story I find my voice, I begin to see more clearly what the story has been about and it makes my heart more open. Like a tapestry, the telling of story unfolds the tapestry to reveal the beauty of it. It isn’t the perfection of the tapestry, it is the story that is revealed by the telling or unfolding, with the good, bad and the ugly. The story involves the whole person. These are truth stories.

I have been reading Matthew 13 over in this last week. The disciples asked Jesus why He was telling stories. He explains that it gives insight, Kingdom insight. It has to do with readiness in the heart, and understanding that can flow freely because the heart is ready. Jesus says That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. Then Jesus tells the harvest story, and another story, and another, and another. All Jesus did that day was tell stories – a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy: I will open my mouth and tell stories; I will bring out into the open things hidden since the world’s first day.

The sharing of your story, and mine, brings things out into the open and, like cleaning out a wound, it is a cleansing that fosters healing. Our stories are Kingdom stories about battles and victories, pain and healing, planting and harvesting, finding thistles in the wheat, of learning, of conquering, of surrendering and letting go, of falling back then standing up and moving forward. Your story gives courage to others, to me. I love the beauty of Eugene Peterson’s words – creating readiness and nudging us toward receptive insight.

Recently I have observed people sit down and share their stories, and seen the power of God at work. I have felt the power and seen the freedom gained. Many stories are shared in the blog world and I see readiness created and people being given insight and understanding flowing freely. That is just what Jesus wants. Somewhere in today is story time.