The Story of We

My grandpa told stories. Action, romance, mystery – I was captivated by them all, even those I could quote by heart. He told stories of his life, his adventures in the Navy, how he met my grandmother. She used to come in and tell him to leave me alone, that I’d heard all the stories before. I’d grin, and wait for grandpa to continue. I wanted to hear them all again and again, because not only were the stories special, so was the storyteller.

As humans, we understand our lives by telling and listening to stories. We relate to each other through these narratives, not cold, hard facts. This is the essence of Walter Fisher's Narrative Theory, the theory that prompted me to pursuit a graduate degree in Mass Communication. Sometimes, when deadlines are looming both at school and at work, it is easy to forget the bigger picture, to get so caught up in the details of this specific sentence and chapter that I forget where the story is headed.

When I step back, I realize the point of the story is I have a new life in Christ. His story tells of his never-ending love and faithfulness. It's beautiful and intricate and breathtaking. If I lose sight of that, and forget to share that story, then the little chapter I am focusing on and laboring over so intently is not going to make much sense. No one will have any idea what the story is all about, and I'll miss out on the amazing stories others have to tell.

This week, I encourage you to consider your story. What is its theme, its purpose? Perhaps, like me, you become so focused on the syntax that you forget the plot. Remember and share your story, and pursuit the stories of others. You may be surprised at the epics we take for granted.