It all starts with "Once upon a Time"

The gospel is all about STORY

It’s about story because there are some things in life that are so true only art and story can come close it’s essence.

Sure we can say God is love.

But then we can look at the story of a young lady who starved to death in China because she wanted to share that love- that God centered love. It’s powerful because it’s true.

And it’s so true it can only be described in story.

The best way we can find out about the importance of racial justice is to look at the utter disgrace of a black woman who was been told by some white bus driver to move top the back or get out.

For many of us the best way we can learn about perseverance is to watch the Italian Stallion, Rocky complete with the trumpets belting out his theme song taking blow after blow and rising up to face the impossible Apollo creed.

For some of us we can listen to 10 points for developing a life of perseverance.

We can read great treatises on why we should persevere but a story makes it organic.

Why? Because there are some things that only a story can truly communicate.

Jesus knew that because—well- he created us that way. And because we are souls who long for story, Jesus used parables or stories to help us get our brains around the big stuff

grace

Debt

Hypocrisy

Deceit

rebellion

Sacrifice

the end of the world.

All big issues

All described in stories.

I marvel as I read the stories that Jesus told. Stories that will make me laugh, squirm, wonder and dig deep. Hopefully as we read or reread these stories, lights will start going off in our own lives because thats what stories do. They remind us of the deep nature of our own lives and our connection with the eternal.

And it all starts with once upon a time.