STORIES

 One of the reoccurring themes in my life is stories.  Perhaps you have to live a LONG life to finally understand we are all living our stories.     I have posted in the past about not repeating things which are NOT OUR STORIES TO TELL.  What does that mean?  The one who is living the story should be the only teller.  It bears repeating the age old game of "Whispering Secrets" is the exact reason we should not be out repeating something we might hear down the gossip chain .  A line of people have a "secret" whispered beginning with the first person down the line---from the beginning to the end-----by the end of the line---the secret is often distorted or does not even resemble what the original whisperer said.  One of the rules of working in a bank was in case of robbery---DO NOT COMPARE NOTES on what the robber looked like---tell it once and only once to the authorities.  Why---because we can be heavily influenced by someone else and collaborating will often lead to a distortion of the facts.  We are not trustworthy to not be influenced by others.  

I recently heard a sermon by a pastor who had been on a college mission trip.  During this trip, he heard over and over--when one of the young adults was giving their testimony that this was NOT their story, but God's Story.  I have spent the morning mulling this over.  How often we all take the "pat on the back", the fame, the glory associated with our lives, BUT how often are we looking to blame someone else for our failures.  Blame shifting--one of the original sins---rears its ugly head when we are presented with the facts of our misses.  We want to squarely lay the blame on anyone else---not owning up to our part---which requires repentance (a subject for another day).  If we are living our lives for God---then should not God be reflected in our actions?  We are quick to beg Him to take the wheel when things are going wrong, but want all the glory if things are going well.  This  begs us all to look at ourselves and closely examine whether we have truly turned our stories over to God.  NOW THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME THINKING.  I dare say I am more than a little disappointed in what I see in myself.  I really desire to be able to answer--this is not my story--but God's story.  That will only happen when I truly turn it all over to Him.  I have done that very thing--only to grab that control back when the seas are smooth.  A sad commentary--but He is a God who loves us enough to give us chance after chance.  The road to sanctification is truly God's story---we only need to recognize His sovereignty and give HIM the glory.

"Know that the Lord Himself is God;

It is He who made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are His people 

and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

and His courtyards with praise."

Psalm 100:3-5

WHEN MUSEUMS BECOME PERSONAL

 The vast majority of us have been to some sort of museum.  I have been to local museums with displays involving the past of the area and huge national museums~ most memorably the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and the granddaddy of them all the Smithsonian In Washington.  I have found each and every one fascinating as I visit the past through curated displays of "The Way We Were".  

I cannot remember what started this train of thought, but I do remember the point, thankfully.  (My memory is hit or miss---and a lot more missing these days)  The point is the museums I enjoyed most and could have spent days in were those with which I have personal knowledge or involvement.  The Smithsonian had Dorothy's red slippers, Archie Bunker's chair, the first satellite; local museums involving families and places I have been around my entire life.  The museum which really spoke to me was the World War II museum in New Orleans.  You might wonder why?   Since I am a Baby Boomer, I was born in the years following the war.  My dad was in the army in the European theater during that war.  I am most interested in the battles he was a part of; what his life was like while deployed; what life was like at home with all the men gone; and how it affected him and my mother--forever.  It is my attempt to understand the experiences of my parents and how it shaped their lives--and consequently mine.  Our history plays a huge roll in who we are.  In any quest to better understand ourselves we need to investigate our history.  The story we are living was directly impacted not only by our experiences, but those who played a part in helping us become who we are today.

Where could I possibly be going?  We have a history with God~ the story of our relationship with Him.  The Word is filled with examples of these stories which makes us aware of how important our stories are.  If we were to create a display based upon our history with God--what would it look like?  Thinking through this gives you a good start on "your testimony".  Someone will be interested (probably our children) , but also those God places in our path.  Stories are told best with a little preparation and practice.  SO--sit down and at least think through what your story exhibit would look like.  Are you prepared to relate to others the story of you and God?  It is the most important story you will ever tell.

"My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,

of your deeds of salvation all the day,

for their number is past my knowledge.

With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;

I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone."

Psalm 71: 15-16

THE LAST STORY

It all begins from our early days in elementary school,  "For today's assignment on the first day of school, write a one page essay on what you did during summer vacation."  I can hear your groans all the way over here!

 

We spend more time than we care to remember writing our stories.  There are those who diligently keep a journal or diary creating a saga.  There are others who really would prefer to forget large chunks of their life.  The fact remains at some point you will need to make a recount of your life.

Our real story telling begins when we start applying for college.  Tell us your academic story and include your service to the community and we also are interested in your extracurricular activities.  Pages upon pages of details of your education story, all in hopes of impressing the admissions committee enough to allow you to cross those hallowed doors.

Our lives are filled with stories.  Each and every doctor wants a complete medical history.  Do they even look at those things after we spend hours trying to come up with each and every test and procedure of a lifetime.  I feel like someone is comparing what I say to what I said the last time I filled out one of these histories.  Who can remember all that stuff after 70+ years?  It could be bad news if during surgery they discovered I ALREADY had my gall bladder removed, but forgot to include it in my history.

Then there is the job application or resume which is totally different type of story about your life.  Do they want to know I wrapped presents at the local mercantile during Christmas when I was 15?  How extensive does my description of what my daily duties need to be?  Should I really divulge my past salaries?  SERIOUSLY, you want to see my college transcript?  Could I put an explanation for my grades my first year?  Do positions of leadership include leader of the pack?  Should I be completely honest or embellish the truth?  Would it be wrong to honestly tell them the reason I want the job is to make money?

Then there is the final story--the obituary.  I must confess I am a student of obituaries.  I read the local obits everyday--first to make sure I know Who died? (and make sure it was not me) and second to see the style and content of the obit.  There are some who have obviously written their own obits---except for the date of death.  Obviously staying in control to the bitter end is utmost in their priorities.  Then there are those which read like a application for Who's Who.  A laundry list of clubs, organizations, offices held, accomplishments, and on and on.  A carefully orchestrated synopsis of a life time of doing.  There are sweet ones when it is so obvious how well loved the dearly departed was by kin and friend.  My favorites are the ones which make me laugh out loud.  How great to go out making others laugh.  I am hoping when my number is up, my children and friends are laughing over Lulu stories.

WELL NOW~where in the world am I going??  Until the fat lady sings, until the last tear has fallen, until the last breath is taken----the story is not over.  There is more--another day.  There is always hope and opportunity to add to the story.  God knows--He has our days counted--there is no time to waste, there is still time to add to the story.  How will your story end?  Acceptance of the inevitable by sitting and waiting for it to happen or living full steam ahead.  Robert Frost has a poem with this stanza which sums up so well what I am trying to say:

The wood are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost