Telling Stories

"Everyone has stories to tell," Lona says, "it's just that most people don't know how to tell them."

Nodding his head,  John adds, "Or when they do tell them most don't know how to make a point."

We're putting stuff away after Bar Church where I'd done a "So-So" job telling a great story, had a great point but isn't sure how well I'd made it and while the entire room was dead silent as I spoke ... I wish I could do it again.

It'll be better next time.

Sarah gets on to me when I tell stories she's already heard.

"You've already told that one," she'll say, or, "It's not the same as you told it before."

"Of course it's not," I tell myself.

"A story, if it's a good story, is tailored and contoured to the audience. It's never repeated exactly. It's fitted in. A different condition calls for a reshaping of the story that will address appropriately the new condition; you have to put the grease where the squeak is."

That's why there's Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Had they not been trying to connect with their audience, there wouldn't be the four Gospels.

I learned that from the great Fred Craddock in his book "Preaching as Storytelling."

I also heard him tell his story several times and ... it was never quite the same.

It's like listening to a song ... if you want to hear it the same way every time, listen to the record ... but for the joys of live performance ... hear it LIVE ... it's never quite the same!

I have a tendency to like live music much better than recorded music.

I believe it's the same with good stories.

"The power of stories is that they are telling us that life adds up somehow, that life itself is like a story," says Frederick Buechner and I believe that with everything in me and our lives ... each and everyone ... is of tremendous significance.

If my story touches your story then ... magic happens somehow ... and the world's a little closer.

If you don't like my story ... that's alright ... I did my best to share it ... will try harder next time ... after all it's my life.

You try harder too ... but it's as much for me as it is for you ... and sometimes you have to do things that are just for you.

Because the thing about a story ... much like life ... is you keep telling it ... or living it ... until you get it right.