A few months ago, we took the time to write the Story of God for an
exhibit on the University Of Toronto Scarborough campus. In the
process, I realized how affected by stories we are. Media is based on
this. Music, movies, books, and even the evening news are story
centered more than information driven. We pay for stories. We wait in
line for stories. We mine the internet for stories. We are
story-starved creatures. Stories offer escape, meaning, context,
inspiration, triumphs, solidarity, and hope for redemption.
Humans gather information but are moved by stories.
God knows that stories are formative in relation to our heart. And
like the title of the blog says, “God Speaks Human" so God tells
stories. Storytelling as a faith practice is nothing new, but story
engaging is so much more than a rhetorical tool. Dancing with a story
changes your life’s rhythm. Wrestling with a story changes your
thoughts’ gait. Surrendering to a story changes your destiny. God
tells stories.
I am not the first person to suggest that we are story formed (Soma and Story Formed Life
are great resources). I am glad to be the next person to say that we
are shaped, formed, moved, and freed by stories and none more than
God’s.
I challenge you to write the story down, then write it again. Keep writing the story till it starts rewriting you.
