The Power of a Story

Everyone loves a good story.

I am on the way to a wedding in Sewanee, TN. Someday I will ask Lane, “So tell me your story. How did you and Bill fall in love…?” She will blush, smile widely as precious memories flood her mind, and then she will tell her love story. Powerful.

Part of my energy is invested in leadership coaching through Awake Consulting. Recently I asked a client and friend to write his story – “What were you like as a leader in the past, and how did you get to this point?” He had never connected the dots. This new perspective gave him and his team encouragement. The changes in his leadership style and effectiveness over the past 12 months are radical. He loved telling his story.

Men and women gather in a borrowed room, and someone begins with, “Hi. My name is Bob.” Within moments, people are sharing about their real and difficult struggles, as well as victories. In this confidential and compassionate circle, people struggling with addiction or struggling with an addict meet for accountability and encouragement. One reason this recovery model is so helpful is the power of storytelling.  

Over the past 25 years I have taken over 50 teams of volunteers into various cultures around the world in order to share and receive the love of Christ. Every person that has traveled with me has been asked to do things in preparation for the journey. But no preparation has been more important than the writing of their faith story. It is not easy to write briefly and in way that “works” in a setting far different than the witness’s home environment.

Storytelling is powerful in both directions. I am challenged and amazed as I carefully think through my own journey AND the listener catches a glimpse of how another human has walked this earthly journey. Hearing someone’s story is a blessed gift.

Prepare and tell your stories this week. Write, blog, record, whatever….

Ask someone about their story. Listen carefully, with gracious ears ready to learn from a fellow-traveler.

And then there is THE Story. Have you heard the story of God? How is your story a part of His Story?

Speak

I read through the Book of Job this week. The issue of suffering (and the little piece of global suffering that I experience) was not the primary message I received in my current reading of this heavy book.

Most of this portion of God’s inspired Word is full of talking heads and wagging tongues. There is a lot of discussing, correcting and challenging. But there is little listening. Job talks. His three friends talk. Finally young Elihu talks. Talk, talk, talk.

By the time I began chapter 37, I was weary of the “talk” of mere mortals, Job and his four counselors. I know how the Book of Job ends, and I was anxious to get to the good part – “Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm…” (38:1ff).

Honestly, I sometimes grow weary of my own wagging tongue and the flapping lips of others. Don’t get me wrong. Like some of the words of Job’s four friends, many of the words I hear are helpful, godly, wise and accurate. But deep in my soul, there is a longing. Perhaps you have felt it… or feel it now.

I want to hear from God.

“God, I want and need to hear from You today. Quiet my wagging tongue. Speak to me, holy and loving LORD.”

Travel Update – I hit the road again tomorrow (November 11) and look forward to visiting with friends and church leaders in Tallahassee, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Mobile, Jackson, Starkville, Birmingham and Atlanta. I’ll be flying pretty low – returning home on November 16. Thanks for praying.