The gift of story is a gift for all seasons
November 18, 2024 at 12:54 p.m.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas close at hand, we can look forward to those stories around the dinner table that we’ve probably heard many times over. They become memories that, hopefully, bring a smile.
For children and teens, hearing stories about themselves recalled fondly within the heart of the family strengthens bonds. They can feel, in the deepest part of them, “This is where I belong.”
The value of storytelling is well known and documented.
The stories expressed by our ancient ancestors in cave paintings and engravings were meant, not just as a lesson for those who would read them, but as an expression of who the artists were, as a people and as individuals. These pictographs reveal, ‘This is how we live. This is what we value. These are the things that bring us to action and to rest.’
And there’s, “Once upon a time.”
When we hear these words, we know what’s coming – a story.
Our ears perk up, our brains snap to attention, and our expectation, even if it is subconscious, is an experience of connection, meaning and imagination.
Neuroscientists and psychologists explain that a compelling story can cause the release of oxytocin in the brain, affecting our beliefs, behavior and attitudes. Basically, the release of oxytocin makes us feel good, safe and social.
Today, in our era of extreme marketing, the most effective story-telling is treasured as a means of product branding. Advertising, including commercials, are mini-stories meant not just to move viewers emotionally, but to move them to action – to buy whatever product is being sold. And much of what’s being sold is being sold to our youth with disturbing consequences.
Jesus clearly understood the power of story. His method of teaching with parables planted the seeds for a faith that would become the largest in the world, even though the message he was trying to impart was often contrary to the status quo of his time. He used parables filled with familiar images and characters to whom listeners could relate.
Jesus told his stories to help his followers understand his transformative message and to enable them to follow his way – to love God above all things and to love others.
We can imagine him sitting around the campfire on a chilly night in Galilee, perhaps eating figs, bread, and honey, and relaxing after a long day of preaching when the disciples ask him, “Lord, what is the kingdom of heaven like?” He thinks about it for a minute and then replies, “Once upon a time, there was a mustard seed. It was the tiniest of seeds that God ever created. But one day, a man planted the tiny mustard seed in the soil, and it grew into the greatest of shrubs and became a great tree so that the birds of the air could take shelter in its branches and make nests in its shade.”
Of course, Jesus didn’t use the words, “Once upon a time.” But he did speak of something all the disciples were familiar with, the mustard seed. His simple stories resonated with the disciples and with those who listened to him preach. It helped people see things in a new and richer light.
His stories were meant to nurture “Aha” moments and to deepen understanding of challenging spiritual and moral principles. He was able to foster this learning in his disciples because he was brilliant at knowing his audience. He understood that not all people are at the same level of faith, maturity or intellect.
Our young people are being inundated with stories daily, many of which are not in their best interest spiritually, morally, or emotionally, but which can have a profound effect on their way of thinking and behaving. We need to counteract those stories with stories of our own, stories of our faith, stories of love, of forgiveness, of hope, and resurrection.
Sometimes our stories are difficult to share. But often the biggest mistakes of our lives, the most difficult experiences we have, are the most powerful of stories because we learned something important from them. We have lived through them and are here to tell them. These stories are the ones our youth need to hear or read.
Perhaps they are too young to hear them now, but it’s never too early to start writing them down. One day they may make the most welcomed gift your child or grandchild, niece or nephew, ever receive.
Lucky for us, some amazing people took the time to write down Jesus’ stories.
Now there’s a gift.
Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, the Metuchen Diocesan newspaper.
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With Thanksgiving and Christmas close at hand, we can look forward to those stories around the dinner table that we’ve probably heard many times over. They become memories that, hopefully, bring a smile.
For children and teens, hearing stories about themselves recalled fondly within the heart of the family strengthens bonds. They can feel, in the deepest part of them, “This is where I belong.”
The value of storytelling is well known and documented.
The stories expressed by our ancient ancestors in cave paintings and engravings were meant, not just as a lesson for those who would read them, but as an expression of who the artists were, as a people and as individuals. These pictographs reveal, ‘This is how we live. This is what we value. These are the things that bring us to action and to rest.’
And there’s, “Once upon a time.”
When we hear these words, we know what’s coming – a story.
Our ears perk up, our brains snap to attention, and our expectation, even if it is subconscious, is an experience of connection, meaning and imagination.
Neuroscientists and psychologists explain that a compelling story can cause the release of oxytocin in the brain, affecting our beliefs, behavior and attitudes. Basically, the release of oxytocin makes us feel good, safe and social.
Today, in our era of extreme marketing, the most effective story-telling is treasured as a means of product branding. Advertising, including commercials, are mini-stories meant not just to move viewers emotionally, but to move them to action – to buy whatever product is being sold. And much of what’s being sold is being sold to our youth with disturbing consequences.
Jesus clearly understood the power of story. His method of teaching with parables planted the seeds for a faith that would become the largest in the world, even though the message he was trying to impart was often contrary to the status quo of his time. He used parables filled with familiar images and characters to whom listeners could relate.
Jesus told his stories to help his followers understand his transformative message and to enable them to follow his way – to love God above all things and to love others.
We can imagine him sitting around the campfire on a chilly night in Galilee, perhaps eating figs, bread, and honey, and relaxing after a long day of preaching when the disciples ask him, “Lord, what is the kingdom of heaven like?” He thinks about it for a minute and then replies, “Once upon a time, there was a mustard seed. It was the tiniest of seeds that God ever created. But one day, a man planted the tiny mustard seed in the soil, and it grew into the greatest of shrubs and became a great tree so that the birds of the air could take shelter in its branches and make nests in its shade.”
Of course, Jesus didn’t use the words, “Once upon a time.” But he did speak of something all the disciples were familiar with, the mustard seed. His simple stories resonated with the disciples and with those who listened to him preach. It helped people see things in a new and richer light.
His stories were meant to nurture “Aha” moments and to deepen understanding of challenging spiritual and moral principles. He was able to foster this learning in his disciples because he was brilliant at knowing his audience. He understood that not all people are at the same level of faith, maturity or intellect.
Our young people are being inundated with stories daily, many of which are not in their best interest spiritually, morally, or emotionally, but which can have a profound effect on their way of thinking and behaving. We need to counteract those stories with stories of our own, stories of our faith, stories of love, of forgiveness, of hope, and resurrection.
Sometimes our stories are difficult to share. But often the biggest mistakes of our lives, the most difficult experiences we have, are the most powerful of stories because we learned something important from them. We have lived through them and are here to tell them. These stories are the ones our youth need to hear or read.
Perhaps they are too young to hear them now, but it’s never too early to start writing them down. One day they may make the most welcomed gift your child or grandchild, niece or nephew, ever receive.
Lucky for us, some amazing people took the time to write down Jesus’ stories.
Now there’s a gift.
Mary Morrell is editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, the Metuchen Diocesan newspaper.