Batterson on Storytelling

Love this blog post by Mark Batterson on the power of storytelling:

"A recent Fast Company article made a profound comment on the power of storytelling. "The stories that you tell about your past shape your future."

"That one statement is so critical to effective leadership and communication. One of my definitions of a "leader" is the person who knows the most stories! A leader shapes culture by telling and re-telling stories.

"Stories are cathartic. They add a level of authenticity and integrity. Their is nothing more powerful than telling or hearing a spiritual story. It's no wonder Jesus was so narrative! I want NCC to be a storytelling culture."

Comments

[Daniel Decker]

Unrealted comment. Just recalling that your blog title was "History in the Making." Wasn't that originally because you were pastoring a church called History Church? Seems sort of prophetic now or maybe that was part of the plan all along. History Church. History in the Making. History Tellers. Not to be cliche but... Story. HISstory.

[dewde]

Man that's good stuff.

I was asked to participate in the telling of "my" story for a sermon series by Andy Stanley. The experience forced me to stop and reflect on the foundation upon which my spiritual house was built.

This was a tremendous opportunity to stand back and appreciate how God chose to guide me, kicking and screaming, into the light in lieu of the obvious alternative that I like to refer to as "The big yawn and squish." Which, of course, is much nearer to what I deserved at the time.

I certainly look at this story telling experience as a pivotal moment in my life and it has had profound influence on my decisions since then.

I think the telling of stories has a cauterizing effect of sorts. On the listeners, sure. But on the story teller as well. Bones are set. Flesh is sealed. Souls are mended. The repeated oration of our life's events wraps us up like a cocoon and either keeps us safe against the elements... or smothers us where we lay.

peace|dewde