I am a storyteller. I love to share a riveting tale while engaging people around me in the emotional waves of action and making them feel as if they are part of the entire event. It's a characteristic I feel helps me connect with people (as I've seen it throughout the different career paths in my life.) This isn't a factor to be manipulated, but instead reinforces my deep desire to be inclusive of all people and to acknowledge each other as we travel through life together. I truly believe it's a reflection of the fundamental truth of our desire to be part of a story of significance and to feel as if we are characters influencing the plot.
The truth is that we are all storytellers. Our entire individual lives are one overarching story that simultaneously interweaves with the ongoing biographies of others around us. Much like a well-written novel there will be plot twists, unexpected characters, devastating events, and great triumphs. The key is to remember that the entire story matters and that our current events are only one part of the grand tale of our lives. The joyful and discouraging events all have significance.
Don't overlook the chapter you're in right now because it's all part of something grand and ultimately beautiful. Learn from each story arc as it becomes part of who you are and who you're becoming. Tell your story while eagerly listening to others as they share theirs. It's a common trait of compassionate humanity and in recognizing the power of influencing each other through what our lives have to say.
There are some very entertaining viral videos by a guy who walks up to random people and says, "Story Time!" and then proceeds to make up a sentence or two about them. They are quite hilarious and always catch these strangers off guard with his creativity. In most of the videos, the people who are part of his story quickly engage in his humor and make the situation even funnier. They play their role in this made-up story because they are actively engaged in its telling and he doesn't portray them in a hurtful light.
Made-up stories don't always work out so well, however, especially when we invent them in our minds. We are all capable of writing a terrible mental story about other people and the conflicts we face. I'll admit I've even had arguments without ever speaking to someone I'm in conflict with. Instead, I have a very one-sided internal dialogue that doesn't usually go well. I'll mentally script out an encounter, expect the worst possible response, and end up making the situation more negative without speaking a word out loud.
As a story teller, I can fall into this unhealthy practice pretty quickly if I don't pay attention. It's caused relationship damage in my life and I've had to learn to recognize when I start down this very slippery slope. Even though I don't always combat it perfectly, I've learned one simple phrase that helps me keep from writing these stories in my mind. When I feel I am drifting into a dangerous practice I tell myself, "Believe the best." This puts other people in a positive light and reminds me to have an honest face-to-face conversation without making up a mental story that isn't going to help anyone.
There is one big story being told through the totality of our life. We don’t always see the whole tale or understand how it will all play out. Sometimes the chapter we are currently living out can be discouraging or frustrating and cause us to lose focus. Remembering that this is only part of our larger story can sometimes give us hope to keep pushing forward—to turn the page.
Our story won’t be made up of one bad day, one lousy season, or a few bad decisions. Like any good novel, these are only parts of the bigger narrative of our whole life and there is always hope for redemption and restoration. We do ourselves a disservice if we only focus on one negative (or positive) piece. Keep moving forward and focusing on the big picture and it helps each small season make more sense and not seem as overwhelming.
I’ve written before about my fascination with people and their individual stories. I wonder how they’ve ended up in their present condition and location and the path of life which has led them here. It’s not always easy to see the depth of a life story from a distance and some people are very good at hiding those stories. Sadly, the pain of life can be more obvious in some people than in others even from far away.
A derailed life is a result of choice. That doesn’t mean people always choose to live a life which has drifted into pain and discomfort. It does reflect our previous (and sometimes current) choices which have crafted difficult circumstances. These can be a direct result of the decisions made by each of us while some of our present condition is caused by the choices of others around us. The weight of poor choices can be a heavy burden to bear.
While we can’t negate the past influence of these options, we can decide what to do with them in the future. Each of us possesses the power to cast aside the weight of what is behind and strain ahead into something better. It’s the only way to get a derailed life story back on track.
I've written many times about my love of a good story. I love to hear how details work together to create unique moments. I want to see tales of triumph, compassion, and genuine human emotion. This is one of the reasons I love sports. It's not just to see great athletic feats and the power of a team coming together, but also to witness the stories that flow from competition, sacrifice, and loyalty.
This week my beloved NY Mets were active in trade talks as we are positioned to make a playoff run for the first time in several years. One of our players, Wilmer Flores, was part of a trade which was reported to be completed on Wednesday night. With social media leading the charge the fans in the stands of the game knew about it before the players on the field. As word quickly spread to the dugout of Wilmer's impending trade, he became emotional as he realized he was leaving the only team he had been part of during his professional career. His tears were captured by the cameras and quickly became a focal point of sports shows that evening. All of this soon changed however as the trade fell through and he remained a Met.
Two days later Wilmer received a standing ovation from the Mets fans when he came to bat. They were showing their appreciation for an athlete who clearly loved playing for his home team. While everyone was enjoying the feel-good moment for a homegrown player, no one could have anticipated the conclusion to these three days. Locked in a tie ballgame against the first place team, the Mets won when Wilmer hit a walk-off home run in extra innings. While writers and journalists tried to capture the emotion of the moment there is no real way to encapsulate the range of emotions this young man felt over three days. His joy and sorrow were as palpable and genuine as the obvious love shared between teammates and fans.
This is a great reminder of the power of a story and how sometimes life is better than anything we could come up with on our own. These are found in places all around us if we're willing to look for them.
My wife is an excellent writer who is able to capture emotions, stir up thoughts, and create conversation through the power of her words. I write more frequently, but differently in style and content. In our individual ways we are story tellers with different and effective approaches.
The truth is that we are all story tellers. Each day we write another portion of the tale of our lives through the decisions we make, the words we speak, and the actions we live out. Some days we write grand chapters of adventure and positive outcomes. There are some sections marked by mediocrity and idling along. Sadly, there are also portions sprinkled with poor decision making and regret. It is the sum of these experiences that make up the story of our life.
We all know when our story began, but none of us knows for certain when our epic tale will end. We just have to continue a real life exercise in "Choose Your Own Adventure" that will create memories and steer us down our life pathway. We won't always get it right, but simply need to keep a focused commitment of writing the very best story possible.
We all have our own story. Since that is true, that also means that everyone around us has a story as well. We just don't know all the parts of the tale of lives around us. Each story is powerful because it belongs to each of us and is a fundamental part of who we are. Imagine the change in our culture's compassion if we took the time to stop and listen to other people's stories. We might be surprised at what we find.
What's your story? We all have them and they are powerful because they belong to us. Can you tell it and do you recognize the moving details in it?
Our story can't just be a history lesson but it needs to be ongoing. We need to be adding new parts to it every day. Each new chapter won't necessarily be filled with plot twists and dramatic events (although it may often feel like this!) but there should be some signs of maturity and personal impact. If you are a Christ follower there should be evidence of God's current work in your life and not just an outdated tale of a spiritual interaction from 10 years ago.
If our God is alive and thriving then our relationship with Him should be as well. If your story feels stagnant then perhaps it's time to change something up.
As I read through the Bible again this year, I found myself back in the book of 1 Chronicles today. I had settled in to be impacted by the power of God's Word and found myself in nine chapters of names and genealogy. I'll be honest and say that I didn't exactly read those chapters word for word. I know that any part of the Bible is important and that God can communicate through it. In fact, that's what I kept telling myself as I read (quickly) through each list of names. My primary thought however was that I didn't know these people. Most of them didn't have "lead roles" in the early history of the Bible and weren't taught in children's church, youth ministry or in many adult worship settings. Their names just didn't mean that much to me.
Of course their names meant something to someone when they were alive. They were important to their families and obviously important enough in the story of God to be mentioned. Each person played their part-both good and bad-in what God had done and was continuing to do. The brief mention of their name was an homage to their personal story and the contribution they made to where we are today. It may not matter much to us, but I know they matter to God.
It ended up being a more valuable lesson than I anticipated. What are the names of people around me that I don't even know? What part are they playing in the story that God is continuing to write? Am I willing to care enough to see their significance and acknowledge that our combined lives are part of God's larger tale?
I need to remember this simple truth: every name matters because it represents a life that matters.
I will admit that I am an unashamed people watcher. I can sit contentedly in a coffee shop and pass the time observing the people that pass through. It feeds the curious part of me that wonders what their story is. I wonder why they are there in that moment and how they have arrived at this stage of life. That might seem a little heavy for a person that is simply stopping in for a cup of java, but it's just part of who I am. I am
fascinated with the concept of stories and how they have shaped us into who we are today. I think that we have neglected the art of storytelling and as a result we diminish other's history and the significance of their tale. It's really a shame because we fail to explore who we are when we negate the power of our stories.
Imagine the shift in authentic community if we were willing to not only share our personal testimony, but to passionately engage in listening to other people's as well.
A good writer knows that the end of a story can either be a letdown or a fulfilling, satisfying conclusion. In the same manner, we need to pay careful attention to the end of our own story. While we don't know exactly when that will be we can still work to maintain the right habits that will speak well of our character. We can finish strong by bringing the right daily focus to our marriages, parenting, Christian faith, and career calling. It's a reflection of a our daily discipline of working to close well instead of leaving things handled poorly or feeling incomplete. Even when things are rough in the beginning & middle of our story a solid finish will positively influence others and be a tale worth retelling.
We should be willing to share our story, but we should also give careful consideration to what the details of that story will be. While we can't do anything to change what has already been written, we can decide what the story will say in the future. Our concern shouldn't just be about our reputation, but more about our character that is being developed and revealed as we keep scripting our life through our decisions.
What story will our lives tell our children? It's one that will continue to speak over them throughout their adulthood. What story will be told of our leadership and compassionate care for others? It will be a perpetual chronicle of our life decisions that reaches farther and impacts more people than we recognize.
The willingness to share our autobiography must be matched by a desire to see that testimony stand with strength and integrity.
I am a fan of a good story. A book that spins a good tale will find it's way onto my "to-read-again" list (and that doesn't happen often.) A movie that captures my emotions and challenges my thoughts will be added to my collection. I love to hear other people tell the story of how they came to be who they are & where they are today. Sadly, I don't think we stop frequently enough to tell these tales because we forget how significant they are.
Our stories are powerful and we should be willing to share them. For the greatest impact we need to work to develop the art of story-telling. Nothing is as powerful as a personal tale of redemption, sorrow, tragedy, and triumph. When we are passionately engaged with other people in the middle of their story it develops genuine community. It can be a lost art in the middle of our social networking Twitterific lifestyle.
Are you willing to tell your tale? When it's intended for mutual benefit and not individual bragging, it's worth the energy.
