I decided last month to create a monthly post highlighting a few stories that begged sharing and remembering. Here are just a few from April.
- Hometown Mural – Pittsburg is packed with quirky personality. I was driving down Broadway the other day and noticed this mural for the first time. Apparently its been up for months without my notice. Oh. My. Word. It sweetly reflects the story of Crawford county, what with his miner’s hat and sunflowers and her chicken. Right there on the pages of a book. This made me feel strangely connected to my old hometown of Abilene, recently designated as the “Storybook Capital of Texas”.
- Storytelling at Sundance – I am quickly becoming a podcast junkie. I listen to and from town, during supper prep, on walks and while folding laundry. There is no end to the variety from which to choose. It’s the story platform of most that keeps me coming back as a way of learning, being entertained and inspired. On episode 32 of the Liturgists, the hosts discuss the art of storytelling while at the Sundance Film Festival. One quote I managed to write down at a stop light was that story is “the only form of information conveyance that lets us escape our own perspective and explore the lens of another person’s conscious experience.” Exactly. Thank you, all the good movies. They also commented that we often prefer a G rated lie to the R rated truth, which I completely agree with. Anyways, if you are up for a fascinating story discussion, open this one on your podcast app.
- Rice Krispies: My Spiritual Awakening by Sarah Bessey – This beautiful essay reminds us of the simple truth that being in God’s will sometimes feel altogether too ordinary. “Because here’s the secret behind it all: part of the reason why we want to be radical is because we believe that its better.” This one is for all my little mama friends, knee-deep in diapers and carpool and monotony. Your story matters deeply.
- ESPN Films: 30 for 30 – It’s no secret at our house that my favorite part of all televised sporting events is the talking that goes on before, in between and after. It stands to reason, because that time slot is all about the story. And a good sports story has the capacity to make you impulsively order a t-shirt. Not that I have ever done that. Last year we stumbled upon an ESPN Emmy-nominated documentary series called 30 for 30. I Hate Christian Laettner was the first we watched. “The idea behind 30 for 30 was to commemorate ESPN’s 30th anniversary by producing 30 films from some of today’s finest directors. Each filmmaker brought their passion and personal point of view to each film, detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009.” You can watch them all online. Expert storytelling.
“Story is what gives our lives meaning.” — The Liturgist Podcast
The Story Place 