Guest guest Posted June 2, 2001 Report Share Posted June 2, 2001 Telling Your Story: The Juice Is Worth The Squeeze by Don Murdock, Laity Lodge Executive Director "Why did God create people?" asked the student. The Rabbi responded, "Because God loves stories." Yes! We are created to become stories. It is not simply that we create and tell stories. We are stories. What are we to do with our story-lives? Holy Scripture instructs us to share them with one another. God made us relational in character and relational in need. One way we live our relational character is in the telling of our stories to one another. At this point, I reasonably asked, "Why is this so important?" And furthermore, "Is there not some risk involved? After all, opening myself leaves me vulnerable to ridicule and rejection." Of course, this is true. Like many others, I harbor a nagging fear that if some people really know me, they won’t like me --- and, I might feel "small" and unworthy as a result. Sometimes, I fear being squeezed into shame by someone’s disapproval. However, I do believe these risks are worth it, especially when I share my story with trustworthy companions. Offering ourselves in stories is how we sustain intimacy with ourselves, others, and God. Henri Nouwen, in his book, "Lifesigns", says that one of the sins of the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit in us is our freedom for intimacy. I like this word "Intimacy." In-to-me see. . . this is how I like to say the word. Intimacy is seeing oneself honestly and letting others wee inside to the honest self. I think Nouwen is right about the Holy Spirit’s function in this regard. The Holy Spirit not only calls us to live honest and open lives with ourselves and others but also empowers us to do so. The writer of First considers such relational openness in terms of "walking in the light" with one another rather than "walking in darkness." Darkness hides us from one another. In darkness we stumble around blindly, harming ourselves and our surroundings. Light enables us to perceive one another and our world realistically, honestly. When we live with the lights turned up brightly, we live with one another in safety. Such openness fosters the freedom and security needed for "insprited" living. I find it exciting and creative to live in the midst of inspirited people. God gives us a wonderful way to enter into and sustain intimacy with ourselves, others, and Himself. This is through revealing ourselves to one another. It is in this process that we discover who we are and the meaning of our lives. Story-sharing also nurtures healing, hopefulness, courage flexibility, and durable commitments. This is one way that God’s spirit knits our lives together to abiding communion. We learn how much we share in common. Loneliness, isolation, and alienation are weakened. Communion with one another is strengthened. Commitments to do good are reinforced. Abilities to shun harmful attitudes and activities are strengthened. The sharing of our stories does all of this and much more. Perhaps the best of all is the delight it brings to the hear of God. He loves stories. Even more, He loves the story-makers. He delights in story-sharing because it helps Him accomplish what He desires in our lives, namely, for us to become healed and whole people who "walk in the light" with ourselves, others, and Himself. We are stories that need to be heard, known, honored, and celebrated. May God give us trustworthy companions with whom we can share ourselves. And, may God bless us with the freedom to overcome our fears of such openness. So, I encourage each of us to share our stories. I have consistently discovered that when I’ve opened myself honestly to others, the juice is worth the squeeze. ----- Original Message ----- From: Patty Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 3:51 PM Subject: Fw: Share Your Story From: "Pam Young (by way of ilena rose)" <pamyoung73@...>Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 9:57 AMSubject: Share Your Story> Dear Sisters:> My hometown newspaper in Ohio is writing an investigative report on the> complications of breast reconstructions. The reporter says she needs more> than just my story of how I was disabled by the TRAM Flap. If you have a> story you would like to share about the complications of Silicone & Saline> Implants or Tram Flaps and Latissimus Dorsi Flaps, please contact > Tucker at lauratucker@.... By telling your story, you may help> other women. Thank you, Pam.>> ~~~ pam, you might want to post this on alt.support.cancer.breast also ~~~> very great work you are doing. love, ilena ~~~>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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