The Power of Story

Last night I read a quote by Eudora Welty, “If you want to tell people the truth, tell them. If you want them to know the truth, tell them a story.” Stories are powerful because they evoke emotions such as fear, excitement, humor, and sadness, all the while transforming us when we listen, or when we hear. Far too often we conflate our concept of story into the same definitions of myth, fiction, or fable. But nothing could be further from the truth. Stories can not only speak truth, but they can generate change.

We all live in a narrative. Some call it a world view, or perhaps a set of lenses we wear. In fact, it’s probably more accurate to say we wear lots of lenses, or in this context, we live in a plethora of stories that tell us who we are. Indeed, they define who we are. Stories are not just spoken or passed down in written word. They are lived out.

Our modern sensibilities read the gospel narratives and seek to find statements of truth, doctrinal nuggets, or theological precepts by which to live. “Love your neighbor,” Jesus said. “Pray for those who persecute you.” These are all fine and good, and offer us something for our lives. Yet how much deeper can we grow in the knowledge of the truth if we were to pay attention to and recognize the narrative that Jesus was telling in his actions, which were not coincidentally paired with the stories (parables) he himself told?

Most of us think Jesus has 12 friends who followed him around. It was actually more than that, but the twelve friends we know as “the disciples” were Jesus’ way of retelling the exodus story, demonstrating that his kingdom mission was to lead Israel out of her captivity. But this time it was more than just a physical journey, it was a journey meant for all, a journey open to the gentiles, a journey that we are all invited to take. It isn’t just a coincidental group: 12 disciples and 12 tribes of Israel. The number was very obvious to first-century Jews that Jesus was doing something by living out his story as he did.

However we live our lives tells our version of the gospel story. While we all say that nobody lives according to their beliefs, the truth is that we all act according to our beliefs, even if we say or prefer to believe differently. In other words, we are always working out our story as we go. The more we learn that our lives tell a gospel story, the more we can look to the gospel story to retell what it is we are living.

View Comments to “The Power of Story”

awtum 13 November 2009 at 9:25 am #

Soul food. Thanks!
charlesj 13 November 2009 at 10:14 am #

I heard a talk by the authors of the book called “Made to Stick”. It's about how to get people to remember what you say. Stories are a very effective method of communication. Stories are very sticky.

The narrative portions of Scripture grab my attention much better than the theological portions. Maybe it's just the artistic side of me. Am I the only one?
xfree9 13 November 2009 at 1:46 pm #

No, I think we all resonate with stories. That's why we remember sermons where the pastor tells a story that we particular remember. Even if we don't remember “the point,” we are experiencing it in certain aspects by virtue that it resonated with us and remained in our memories.
awtum 13 November 2009 at 2:25 pm #

Soul food. Thanks!
charlesj 13 November 2009 at 3:14 pm #

I heard a talk by the authors of the book called “Made to Stick”. It's about how to get people to remember what you say. Stories are a very effective method of communication. Stories are very sticky.

The narrative portions of Scripture grab my attention much better than the theological portions. Maybe it's just the artistic side of me. Am I the only one?
xfree9 13 November 2009 at 6:46 pm #

No, I think we all resonate with stories. That's why we remember sermons where the pastor tells a story that we particular remember. Even if we don't remember “the point,” we are experiencing it in certain aspects by virtue that it resonated with us and remained in our memories.