Tell Me a Story

Everyone loves a good story. I have always been rather captivated by fantasy stories and following the journey of the hero. A few that have really stuck with me over the years are the Harry Potter series and the Star Wars stories (especially the originals!). Even as a child, I loved a good fairy tale, told of course through the Disney lens. I imagine you have several favorite stories of your own – maybe family stories, books, movies, series, or others. Stories that you just love to hear or see again and again. Stories that speak to you deeply, or resonate with you in some way. 

This summer we have spent several weeks looking at the parables of Jesus, which are basically short stories to illustrate a point or concept. Like fables, there is often some kind of lesson or instruction being conveyed in such stories, and sometimes, they can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Story tends to be a much richer way for us to convey truth or to teach and connect to one another. Story and storytelling are core to our being as humans, and I believe, one of the reasons Jesus taught in parables, and why we have the stories of the Bible to help us understand our relationship to God and each other still today.

A key component of our experience with story is the importance of telling the story. In this verse above, we catch the tail end of a story where Jesus heals a man who was cast out by his community for being possessed by demons, who after being healed now desires to hold onto and stay with Jesus, understandably so. But Jesus tells him instead to go and tell his story of what God has done for him. It is not enough for him to just experience God in his life and keep it to himself, but it is now his calling to share that story with others. Just as we receive the stories of others in the faith, we are called to continue to tell the story, especially about what God had done for us, and how God has changed our lives.

So how might you share your story? Do you tell others about how God has worked in your life, and how your faith has impacted you? As followers of Jesus, we are called to ‘be his witnesses’ and tell the story of Jesus in the world, and specifically, how God has impacted us. As with these other stories we love, telling our stories about God at work in our lives has much more impact and depth than just telling people about God in the abstract. And there may be someone out there who needs to hear your story as they continue to explore God in their own life and write their own story.

This summer, I hope you will consider your own story of faith and who you might tell your story to. I believe there is someone out there who needs to hear your story. 

Peace,

Pastor Kristin