Storytelling as an Everyday Window to the Divine by Carol McCormick Our greatest desire is that our lives mean something. This desire is the originating impulse of story. We tell stories because we hope to find or create significant connections between things. If nothing is connected, then nothing matters. Ken Feit was a former Jesuit priest who traveled our planet telling stories to teach about life and death. Ken hooked me on storytelling by explaining it as paradox -- something that allowed us to say “Yes” and “No” at the same time. For the survival of our planet, as well as the evolution of our human race, it is critical that we learn to accept and live with paradox. Polarized thinking nurtures division. Paradoxical thinking nurtures compassion. For instance, storytelling can help us see individualism and community as natural allies that make each other possible. Yet storytelling is so omnipresent in our everyday world that it is often invisible. We live in stories like plants live in soil, taking our sustenance from them, but rarely conscious of them. In the words of Isak Dinesen, “To be a person is to have a story to tell.” Stories tell me who I am, who you are, and what we are together. Humans constantly invite story exchanges. “How are you doing?” “What’s up?” “How was your meeting?” “How is your family?” “Did you hear about Jennifer?” “You aren’t going to believe what happened to me!” Each of these and countless more are invitations to storytelling. Storytelling can spark the fire of imagination, give voice to emotions and strengthen understanding and compassion. It engages us as whole persons -- intellect, emotion, body and spirit. Self-awareness and self-acceptance are fruits of storytelling, because we understand ourselves better when we see and verbalize hidden messages from our lives. We tell and listen to stories to reassure ourselves that we are not alone. We find that others share our pain, confusion, hopes, joys and triumphs. We might even feel relieved to hear about someone who has it worse than we do. Exchanging stories strengthens our courage. The story plays out behavior and outcomes that we weigh as possibilities for ourselves. I believe nothing is more important for our individual and collective well-being than telling each other stories. The uncritical relativism that pervades our society says that truth and goodness are entirely subjective opinions, that everyone’s values are radically different, and that affirming some stories and rejecting others is intolerant. This relativism is often the basis for passivity, paralysis and cynicism. Hearing stories can challenge us to be active empowered characters rather than passive victims or observers. Both the present and the future are determined by choices, and choice is the essence of character. If we see ourselves as active characters, we can exercise our human freedom to choose a present and future for ourselves that gives life meaning. Hope, courage, persistence and faith can all be fed by stories. Stories teach us that ethical character is more important than personality or physical attractiveness. They teach us how to live. We can only answer the question, “What am I to do?” if we can know what story or stories we find ourselves a part of. Through a shared experience of joy or grief, storytelling can build community and bond a group together. It can also teach us that there is a place for all of us, that we fit. But the strongest reason I see storytelling as connected to the Divine is that it brings joy! November 14 to 21 is National Storytelling Week. From 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, Lake Harriet Community Church will host “Tellabration!” an evening of storytelling and music for adults. Tellers are Maren Hinderlie, Duke Addicks, Solveig Beckman, Mike Mann, Andre Heuer and Carol McCormick. Music by Know No Fear. Tickets are $8. Carol McCormick is a professional storyteller that shares programs with all ages. For information about her programs or for “Tellabration” tickets call (612) 546 4133. E-mail mccobuch@minn.net.