Finding a person to practise storytelling
Following your workshop, I looked around for opportunities to practise storytelling the Bible message of God’s rescue plan beyond children’s work. I had begun to visit a start-up hair salon business. After a few visits I mentioned that I had been to an interesting workshop on storytelling and that I needed to practise on at least eight volunteers and would she mind if I practised on her. She kindly agreed and I started with the Creation story and the Fall with the hint of a plan for salvation contained in Gen 3:15. The response was amazing: my hairdresser said she had attended a religious school and had never heard the Bible told like that. She thanked me for telling her the story. I settled my account and she announced, “To be continued…”
Next visit I retold more of Genesis: the spread of disobedience and the contrast of listening to God as Noah did. There was good conversation about the spread of languages following Babel. Then it was on to Abraham with a focus on God’s promises and the need for a perfect sacrifice.
Then as it was Christmas time, I jumped to the birth of the Saviour as fulfillment of prophecy and the perfection in Jesus. There was joy as we explored the story of Joseph, Mary and the visitors, accompanied by exclamations of “I didn’t know that!”
When her young son arrived after school she asked me to answer a question about spiritual things, he had asked her just the day before. It was a privilege to address this and see the faith in the child.
This year we have recommenced with the story of Phillip and the Ethiopian exploring a follower of Christ and someone seeking the Truth. I asked my hairdresser if telling the story out of order caused confusion and she was adamant that it did not.
Who could you find to practise stories with? Just ask them if they’re willing. You might be surprised how many are willing.
Used with permission of LM
Update:
I told my hairdresser friend the Easter story, linking it to the need for a perfect sacrifice as told on previous occasions. The last supper, Jesus’ prayer in the garden, the arrest, trial, a brief account of the crucifixion, the problem of the stone over the tomb, the glory of the resurrection and the temple curtain torn in two had a sense of anointing. My friend said it brought back memories of the film the Passion of the Christ. She said she could see it in her mind as I spoke. She was excited and engaged. We parted with the joy of the real Easter story.
As I left the salon, I said she could tell stories too. When she claimed she could not possibly remember them like me, I replied: “When the Story becomes yours, you will be able to.” And my friend agreed.
