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Storytelling
by Kathy Mescher, Celina, Ohio Companion
Storytelling is one of the most essential and best-
loved of human traditions. Telling stories is enjoyable.
Who hasn’t sat with a favorite aunt or uncle, captivated
by tales of when our parents were young, or spent
time with a group of friends, each sharing tales of
their summer adventures? Counselors and spiritual
directors know there is also a therapeutic value to
storytelling, recognizing it as an important tool with
benefits for both the teller and the listener. History
is preserved through storytelling; much of human
history, including sacred Scripture, was passed down
orally long before most people could read or write.
The telling of stories creates strong connections
among people as they share personal and spiritual
experiences. In her 2014 book, Speak: How Your
Story Can Change the World, author Nish Weiseth
defines story as “the vulnerable sharing of your life
experiences with others. It’s everything that you’ve
been through in your life, but more importantly, in a
Christian context, it also refers to the ways in which
God has worked in and through those experiences.”
There is intimacy in sharing life stories and God
stories, and this intimacy creates relationships and
forms the basis for community. When we truly listen
to another person’s story, and when we feel safe
enough to share our own, a bond is formed that draws
us to each other. We recognize our commonalities, we
appreciate the trials the other has faced and empathize
with their pain, and we are willing to put aside points
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November 2018 • The New Wine Press • 9