Are You Playing For Keeps With Your Stories?

            I would like you to take a moment and think about your favorite movie or book.  What is it that makes it so special to you?  Maybe you found yourself really connecting with the characters.  Maybe you loved the overarching theme that it presented.  Maybe you loved the plot, setting, or there was some other variable that you simply couldn’t put your finger on but it connected you to the movie or book.  Whatever the case for many of us, we can recall the lines, plot, and theme that was present throughout our favorite book or movie, which made me wonder what is so powerful about these things?

            What is it that can make us get sucked in to a great book for hours until we have to finish it to have some sort of closure?  What is it about the actors and the plot that makes us feel like we are drawn into a larger story?  After thinking through this one central theme emerged, we (as people) love to be drawn in and connected to a story.  We love feeling the connection to the characters through the storyline.  We long to see our lives connected to a larger story through a movie or a book.  Whatever the reason we love stories that connect us, engulf us, and offer meaning to some challenges that we face in our lives.  In other words, stories are an important part of our lives.

            But why is it that stories are so important to us?  The answer is simple, stories shape our perspective.  Stories over time shape our perspectives about God, faith, values, and life.  Authors Reggie Joiner & Kristin Ivy cite the research of Liisa Ogburn in their book Playing for Keeps, by saying, “In the last 15 years we have developed the brain imaging technologies that help us shed light on what it means to ‘Get lost’ in a good story.  Studies are suggesting that, when reading, listening, or watching a good story, we activate brain regions used to process the experience as if it were our own.  In other words, we are wired for stories” (p. 108). 

The lives of our children/students are extremely important so we need to be intentional about utilizing stories to direct their life in a positive direction that they will live out forever.  As you think about these words, feel free to watch the following video to gain a better understanding of the power of stories in parenting! 

http://skitguys.com/videos/item/fatherhood

 We look forward to partnering with you and sharing in this discussion as we seek to impact the next generation with the combined influence of parents and the church!