“But I talk about my
life anyway because if, on the one hand, hardly anything could be less
important, on the other hand, hardly anything could be more important. My story
is important not because it is mine, God knows, but because if I tell it
anything like right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is
also yours. Maybe nothing is more important than that we keep track, you and I,
of these stories of who we are and where we have come from and the people we
have met along the way because it is precisely through these stories in all
their particularity…that God makes himself known to each of us most
powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our
stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually.”
-Frederick Buechner ”
Telling Secrets: A Memoir”
I have been thinking a lot about stories
lately. This quote by Buechner has been running through my mind. I have always
loved stories. Ever since I was a little girl I loved stories. I loved reading,
writing, telling and hearing stories. As I got older I still loved stories. I
just wasn’t too fond of my story. I didn’t think I had a story worth telling and
I definitely didn’t see where God fit in my story.
In the past few years,
God has been redeeming my story. Showing me how my story points to His story. He
has been continually reminding me that He will never waste my pain. Even though
God has been working I still haven’t believed my story was the kind of story anyone
would want to hear. The truth is I hated my story.
I did not want to go
back and revisit all the bad parts. I did not want to look at how I have been
hurt and how I have hurt others. I couldn’t imagine putting my story on paper
let alone sharing my story.
I avoided writing my
story and talking about it for many years. Finally God showed me if I didn’t
like my story then I must not like the author of my story. It wasn’t some quick
fix like all of sudden I love my story. Slowly I began to see that denying my
story was denying the way God has worked in my life. In fact I continually
forget how much God loves all parts of me even the parts that I don’t like so
much.
I took my eyes off
myself for a little while and saw maybe my story isn’t only about me. I started
to see how God could use my story to heal others. I began to see how the places
of my deepest pain were the places I realized my need for God. I began to see how
God was with me throughout my whole story. The good, the bad, and the ugly He
was there.
As I began to love my
story a little more I could see how it truly is only grace that I am here
today. I stared to see God redeeming my
story. Once I realized it was all grace I couldn’t help but want to share my
story.
We don’t tell stories nearly enough these
days. We pretend everything is great and don’t want others to know us. This
does nothing good for anyone. Your story has a purpose. Your pain was for a reason.
By not telling your story others miss
out on His story. So friends I encourage you don’t deny your story. Share it
with others. Let others be blessed by the way God has worked in your life.
What’s your story? Do
not be afraid to go into those dark places. Those very places that you are
scared to go just might be the places you will meet God and experience healing.
