Theme: Story
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3: 2-3 The
Message Version
You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone but carved into human lives—and we publish it.
The most famous Six- Word story is attributed to Ernest Hemingway (although apparently there's no evidence or proof that he actually wrote it):
"For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.”
As I have been reflecting during this Lenten season, asking God to reveal me to me, I have been struck by the number of stories that I hold inside my heart and mind. I did not realize that I was holding these stories until recently when I joined The Chicago Playback Theater Ensemble. This organization is a local non-profit IMPROV group, who uses story as a way to build empathy, community and to bear witness to folks' lived experiences. It has been life changing!
And Playback Theater has revealed that I have a lot to say. When we gather for rehearsal each week, we take turns sharing stories that we then perform - on the spot - using improvisation, movement, and music. It has been a lot to sit with because the stories started bubbling up and it has been difficult to put a stop to them. Even once rehearsal has ended, the stories continue to play in my mind -some haunting me, some leaving me doubled over in laughter, and two (so far) bringing me to tears. For me, as I have reflected for the past two weeks, there are so many reasons why these stories are buried so deep within. Fear. Shame. Lack of safety. No container. Embarrassment. Yet, even with each of these emotions attached to the buried story, I know that my story matters. It does.
We all have a story to tell. Our story bears the marks of our triumph, defeat, love, lament, celebration, salvation, and the lists continues. What is your story?
In my spiritual imagination, Jesus' Six-Word story would be:
"Death has failed; I got up!"
[One of] my six-word stories:
"Assault tried hard; I'm still here!"
Prayer:
God, Your love for us is the greatest story ever told. Help us to hold that story and let it buoy our hearts in gratefulness. And then when we forget that love story, God, remind us so that we don't stray too far. Help us, too, to share our stories with each other. Show us that our story can be the very thing that liberates someone else. And as we move toward freedom for ourselves, help us to see, help us to know, and help us to love others by holding their story, too.
Reflection Question:
How has someone else's story impacted your life? What is your six-word story?
*For help writing your six-word story, click HERE.
I appreciate all of the work you put into writing these devotionals several times a week. Each day so far has directed me to meaningful introspection. My religious background did not include an observance of Lent so I haven't quite known what to do. This year, reading the devotionals and prayers , listening to different types of music and answering the reflection questions has made me understand the benefit of self-examination during Lent. Thank you and I look forward to future devotionals.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement and I appreciate that folks are engaging in a meaningful way *and that it is making an impact. Keep reading. Keep reflecting. And share it with others, too! Blessings to you on the journey!
DeleteDeeply, lovingly, always, no matter, while owning one’s own narrow interest, pursuits, achievements, and accepting one’s limitations…. Grateful, generationally speaking.
ReplyDelete“Thrive beyond belief, always; Go forth.
Read this last night, took awhile, most definitely an interesting thought process, to finally, slowly, come to find my way too. Thank You.
Thank YOU! Thank you for trying. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for engaging. And you six-word story is beautiful!
Delete