The Power of Story

The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story. - Mark 5:33

Jesus healed this woman of her bleeding and her shame. She knew it, and she knew she had to speak her story. It’s easy to imagine Jesus smiling as she shared her story - in delight about her courage and beauty and strength and in mischievous pleasure at how her story would be destabilizing the mindsets of all those around who were listening (including his 12 apostles). That’s because stories are powerful. As one preacher has said:

A story doesn't grab you by the lapels and bring you close so that you can smell the cigarettes and coffee and Altoids on his breath.  What a story does is sneak up behind you and whisper something in your ear. And when you turn around to see what it is, it kicks you in the butt and runs and hides behind a bush.  And in so doing, a story does something that no abstract proposition can ever do.  It stops you in your tracks and makes you think.  It catches your attention and won't let go.  You can't help it.  A story can't be argued with or dismissed like a proposition.  A story is just sneaky.  It doesn't teach by induction or deduction.  It teaches by abduction.  It abducts your attention and it won't let you go until you have done some thinking for yourself. - Brian McLaren

What are the stories from others that have been having the biggest impact on you these days? What about the stories from your own life - what are the big ones this year? Would you be willing to share those stories with a few other people these days at holiday gatherings?

*Christmas Eve Service is at 6pm on Tuesday, Dec 24th at Lafayette School, 2445 Chestnut Ave, Long Beach 90806