A Story for Everything

As a storyteller, preacher, and teacher, I have heard many times in my life, "You seem to have a story for everything." For a long time, I thought it was a blessing and a curse. A blessing that I had survived so many strange and unique experiences and a curse that the experiences seemed to fill my life. Lately, I have been pondering this odd "story for everything syndrome" in my life and have come to a few conclusions.

First, I seemed to have passed through a great many unique and amazing events, most often through ministry opportunities that have opened before me. To have been blessed to serve at 8 congregations and with several other non-congregational ministries added into the mix over the past 62 years. I was blessed to work in Radio for a season as a paperboy, camp counselor, and houseparent in retail, with Office Max, K-Mart, and S.S. Kresge. God bless though of you that remember S.S. Kresge. I have lived in 5 different states in 11 cities and more homes than I can keep track of. I have traveled to 9 foreign countries and to well over 2/3rds of the United States. I have been a guest at lavished multicourse meals in beautiful settings and eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on dirt floors in some of the most impoverished people in our world.

Secondly, I am a storyteller, and I always have been. Some might just say I'm a talker and a bit of a ham, but that, too, has served me well. I also am an introvert; some of you may need to read that again, but I gain strength and recharge through my time alone or with a small group of people. Although I enjoy speaking to large groups and leading worship and other events, they are exhausting and create great demand for naps and quiet solitude. When you put together a storyteller and an introvert you get a person who ponders the events of their life through the lens of a story. I ponder my past and reflect on my future through the eyes of a running narrative, a giant story, as it were.

Finally, you put this together with a God who chooses to interact with his creation on a day-by-day journey and reveal himself through one of the most impressive narratives ever told. You find yourself with "a Story for Everything!."

While seeing God in the everyday experiences of my life, as storytelling comes naturally to me, I believe it is a gift given to me by the Spirit of God from the hand of the master storyteller. Likewise, it is not a gift given to everyone. Perhaps that is why so many seem amazed at my library of stories.

As I relaunch this website and podcast,I want to spend some intentional time helping you continue to see God in everyday life and hopefully pass lessons on building your own library of stories. I will share stories and ponderings through this website in various ways. Some will come in the way of written ponders, which is not my strongest suit; some come in video or audio format or even through a photo that tells a particular story. As I begin this journey, I want to be in dialogue with you. I also want to hear your stories, reactions, and frustrations. Let's become more gifted at sharing our story so that others might see the even bigger storyline of our life and this world.

That reminds me of a story....