“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.” (Psalm 78:4)
“Once upon a time in a land very far, far away . . .” They were the opening words to some of our favorite childhood stories. Sometimes they were told at bedtime or another special time of day, and our eyes would be wide open with a deep gaze of anticipation. Whether it was a fairytale like Alice in Wonderland or Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, the art of storytelling was passed down through the generations. These stories stimulated our imagination and pretty much insured that as we grew slightly older, we would be making up our own tales as we dared to outdo our friends with a ghost story at our first sleepover. I can still recall short stories and poems recited by my grandmother which somehow also became etched into my memory. The stories told by parents and grandparents help us to understand their history and our heritage, developing strong and loving bonds. Dating back to a simpler time before technology took over, they became one way that our ancestors lived on long after they were gone.
As he looked out at the congregation, he prompted them saying just two words, “It’s Friday” – to which they shouted in reply, “But Sunday’s comin.” The speaker was Rev. Tony Campolo who is one of the best Christian story tellers there is. He recalls preaching in his home church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania decades before. On that particular Sunday when several ministers would speak in this African American Church, he was really preaching his heart out to an urging congregation. After he finished, he sat down by his pastor and said something like “bet you can’t top that” to which the elderly Black minister said, “Son, sit back cause the old man is gonna do you in.” Campolo said for the next hour and a half his pastor preached one of the best sermons he has ever heard using the recurring phrase “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin.” The theme of the message illustrated how dark and gloomy things appeared for the followers of Jesus at Calvary. But the good news is that it did not end there, for it was only Friday. The motivational message goes on to reinforce that when Sunday arrived, everything changed.
If we are lucky, we too have memories of special times when we were inspired by a Bible story after bedtime prayers, or as we gathered with our friends during the children’s message at church or during a summer Bible School. One of the best storytellers was Jesus who would frequently use parables to illustrate a truth or moral lesson. He was once asked by His disciples why He spoke in parables to which He replied, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them” (Matthew 13:12). The Lord’s parables are rich in imagery and not easily forgotten. It’s been said that the parables of Jesus are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. They are a blessing to those with willing ears. But for those who were unwilling to hear His message, they did not understand and were declared spiritually deaf.
A good story teller may at some point publish a novel. But just as well, they could become a songwriter or capture the hearts of children at a Saturday morning public library reading hour. Or just for a moment, they might rekindle the fractured memory of a nursing care resident with dementia as they share the reading of a once-familiar scripture or a verse of a frequently sung hymn somehow retained in the cobwebs from Sunday School decades before. Good stories invite us to experience make-believe life through their fictional characters, but God’s story invites us to experience truth through Christ’s Word. Paul pleaded: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14). We should not allow ourselves to become complacent In assuming that Bible stories and old hymns are such a precious part of our heritage that they will always be remembered. God has chosen people to be the primary communicators of His gospel. He has entrusted us to be His storytellers. Take time to share His great story, so it becomes part of theirs. If not you . . . then who?
REFLECTION: Has storytelling been part of your family tradition? How have you made an effort to keep it alive and, in particular, share those personal and Biblical reflections of faith?
A NEW LOOKUP DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., MAY 6, 2017. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED