Sharing Stories

A reflection by Pastor Darrel Peterson

Over lunch the other day, some of us got to talking about storytelling. We talked about how before air conditioning and television, folks just naturally would sit out on the porch or under the trees and tell stories and tell “lies”. We talked about eccentric personalities and what interest and flavor they brought to our communities. We talked about regional story telling. Was it just a stereotype that Southerners told more and better stories and Northerners were more oriented to factual information?

Regardless, wherever we grew up, our memories still resonate with marvelous stories and fascinating anecdotes. Why, I remember vividly our town hobo, Joe Joe. He got tired of “riding the rails” some time back in the 1950’s and settled down in our little Minnesota town. He lived in a brooder house (small chicken house) on the edge of town and he loved to talk with whomever. Some Summer evenings we boys would walk through the tall grass to see what Joe Joe was up to. One evening I remember, he had a pot of something cooking. He had been drinking (which was not unusual) and he entertained us by singing portions of the Catholic mass, no doubt rooted in his childhood. Everyone knew him and considered him harmless. One of the local businessmen was his “guardian” and managed his money. Joe Joe was even elected Justice of the Peace at one point in our delightful little town.

Well, we now have air conditioning (thanks be to God) and cable or satellite television, and a whole lot of other technology. Some of us live behind security gates and stone walls, and if the truth be known, live lives somewhat devoid of flesh and blood stories. Our stories are formulated by professional entertainers and often don’t really have much to do with what is happening with us. We keep a close eye on the financial reports and the news. We value sameness and are suspicious and cynical about what authorities and governments are doing.

Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh, but I think you get my point. Progress has taken away a lot of the casual and the genuine. We value and we have chosen the “advancements”, but they do not automatically translate into a better lifestyle.
So, how do we share authentic stories and connect meaningfully? In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m writing this in a faith-based context rooted in the ELCA Southeastern Synod, the Lutheran Church. We who are living in this common era (2010) and who are reading this purport to be following Jesus. Now there is a story teller! Each week we gather to worship God and to hear the stories of Jesus and the Christian faith. Sermons are when some of us get to intersect the stories of faith with the realities of life. And if we are really living, we extend those stories to what we are doing in the church. In our context we can tell stories about Lutheranch and about the Lutheran Volunteer Corp (LVC). There are stories about responding to disasters and hunger. There are stories about new mission congregations and students preparing for ministry. The list goes on.

Just as the birds sing, we need to tell our stories of faith and life. Keep sharing stories!