Sharing our stories

   Several months ago, a friend who spearheads the bookstore ministry at church handed me a book and said, “Here, I think you should read this. It is right up your alley!” With that intriguing statement, I began reading Spoken into Being: Divine Encounters through Story by Michael E. Williams, a master storyteller.

   Not only were Williams’ personal stories inspiring, his retelling of a few biblical stories and explanation of the components of storytelling were also very good. While I was in the process of reading and absorbing the message in the book, my friend contacted me again, this time

with the name of another person who had also bought it.

   “Maybe you two should get together,” she said, making another intriguing suggestion! I decided to give that person, Janice, a call. I suggested getting together regularly to discuss the book and use some of the prompts to share our own stories. She was very receptive to the idea. As Janice said later, it was a good opportunity to make a new friend (for both of us!), sometimes hard to do in a large church such as ours.

   When one of the associate pastors asked me to think about leading a small group, that book came to mind. Maybe Janice would help co-lead or facilitate a storytelling group? It would be a stretch for both of us; but we decided that it would be fun and a new experience.

   As small groups and classes began forming for the fall, another associate pastor, this one the head of our ‘sister’ church, asked if he could interview us in front of his congregation as part of a sermon series on telling others about what God has done and is doing in our lives. Jan and I agreed to attend the service which was held on Sunday, August 19.

   Looking around the sanctuary that morning, I saw adults of all ages, a few babies and some children gathered together. Sitting side by side in one row were my husband Al, our daughter and her two young sons. It was an emotional moment. The message of good news that God loves us and of his plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ certainly changed my life when someone shared it with me more than fifty years ago. What a privilege to be able to share that story with my family, friends and strangers too.

   The pastor encouraged us to have stories ready to share with people as we go about our daily routines. He even gave us a simple model to follow: “I was this...God showed up...Now this...” After giving a couple of examples from his own life, he asked us to share a brief story following that model with someone sitting next to us. It turned out to be a very meaningful exchange. Now how often do we connect with others in that way, even during a worship service?

   At the end of his sermon, he asked Janice and me to come up front for the interview. We spent the next 10 to 15 minutes discussing these topics: “Why should we be storytellers? Why does it matter that we share what God has done in our lives?” “What are some practical tips for knowing and sharing our stories with others?”

   Good questions to ponder, don’t you think? Storytelling has been a basic form of communicating from one generation to the next for centuries. During the interview, Janice pointed out that we live in an age of disconnect, spending a great deal of time looking at screens and not so much actually communicating with people. Perhaps it is more important than ever to connect with one another by sharing the stories of how God has worked and is working in our lives.

   Each of us has a unique story. May we be ready to use whatever platform God gives us, whether it be a special talent or gift, a hobby, interest or occupation as an opportunity to let our stories be told. Speak through us, Lord!

   “I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love...” (Hymn “I Love to Tell the Story”, words by Katherine Hankey 1866)

   “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story...” Psalm 107:2a NIV

Stone Age People sharing their stories (Alta Norway)