A Story

Stories shape languages, cultures, histories, and evade time.  They have meaning, context, lessons, and some contain truth.  Love, war, struggle and redemption permeate the stories that are passed on from one to another.

Through the course of living in Christian community, it has become fairly evident how important stories are to the propagation of truth.  Scripturally speaking, the Bible not only contains stories but gives us a glimpse of the story - the story that shapes the past, present and future.  Relationally, stories open doors, seed compassion, and develop community.

My story is but a miniscule part of that story.

A friend of mine recently told me about a snippet of his story.  He said he feared that if he shared this part of his story with others in our community he would be defined by, remembered for, and perhaps judged accordingly based on a singular portion of his story.  This, I said, is detrimental to authentic community.

If we choose to leave out, repress, or avoid a portion of a story, the whole meaning of the story cannot be known, the larger context is jeopardized, and it seems selfish.  Consciously neglecting part of a story gives more authority than is due to actions, behaviors, words, and thoughts.  It is only in the context of the story that these parts find healing redemption.

Vulnerability is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly.  Our stories need not be published in memoirs, pronounced via public confession, or flippantly conversed.  But in authentic community, our stories must be shared.  Bits and pieces at a time, but never consciously abandoned.

This week, I told my friend that it is not the things within our stories that define us.  Perhaps they shall at times earthly and societally.  But it is not the story in and of itself that defines us.  What defines us is the purpose of our stories, part of the story: ultimately to glorify the One from whom the story has come.

I oftentimes neglect authenticity, honesty and vulnerability with myself, let alone others.  Sometimes I do not want myself to know my story.  It seems easier that way.  And then there are times like this week when I realize that it is vital, necessary, and prudent that I live in community with myself, my Lord, and those whom I live with so that I may holistically become a part of the story.