Narrative – a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.
My husband took this picture on a recent trip to Portland, Oregon. The name of the store is “Narrative” and the tag line is appropriately “everything has a story“. I love the picture. I love the reminder and challenge.
It’s what I think of as I walk to work this Tuesday. Everything, indeed everyone, has a story.
The person I discard because they didn’t serve me quickly enough? He has a story. Valerie, who sits outside the subway in a chill wind? She has a story. The woman in front of me getting coffee, smelling of money with expensive jewelry and coat? She has a story.
And all these stories matter. They are infinitely precious to God.
A recent post on The Gift of Writing website challenged and encouraged me on both these counts: that everything has a story and that these stories matter. The author, Claire De Boer says this:
Figuring out why our story matters and the role we play within a greater story gives us meaning and purpose.
Your story matters. So I invite you to tell some of your story. Perhaps you would love to tell some of it but no one has invited you to do so, perhaps you think about starting a blog, but not sure that’s the direction you want to go. Here is your chance!
Last year I hosted a guest post series called So.Many.Stories and this year as we rapidly approach the end of 2013, I am opening this up again. I invite you to contribute to this series. We’ll begin with holiday stories and then move on to other stories.
Because Communicating Across Boundaries is largely about stories: stories of grief, identity, memory, place, home, communication, faith.
If you would like to participate, I would love to hear from you. Whether you’re single, married, a global nomad, or have stayed in the same area all your life — you have a story. And Communicating Across Boundaries loves stories. I’m looking for essays 600-700 words and I want to hear from you! If you’ve got an idea, but not sure it will work – send an email to [email protected].
For inspiration take a look at this beautiful video called “Sonder”, sent to me by my friend Tina.
Sonder | The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows from John Koenig on Vimeo.
