Where’s your story? You probably have a lot of them and each one is unique to you. No one sees like you see. Nobody experiences things the same way you do. Your story presents a one-of-a-kind perspective on just about everything. In fact, no one can tell your story better than you.
Why is it so important to share your story? Every experience you have–big or small, no matter what emotions are involved, no matter whether you won or lost–has the ability to carry a profound message. You can be sure that someone can glean something valuable from it every time. Something else you can be sure of, too. If you don’t share it, not one single life will be touched.
So again, I’m asking you, Where’s your story? Join me as I show you how one simple story can bring so much on so many levels…
Your story comes from everyday life
In the predawn light of my silent bedroom I woke up. Moving slightly I felt the sleeping kitty nestled close to me and cuddled her softly as I stretched. It was 5:24 on a Saturday morning. Part of me wanted to go back to sleep hugging the cat while the rest of me immediately pulled up the checklist for the day and started stewing over how much there was to do. The agitated part of me won the moment, and I soon found myself standing in front of the closet with the light glaring in my face. Good morning, Lord. I headed for the coffee pot.
I took a few minutes over a hot cup of liquid life to glance through the news app on my phone. That always feels like a mistake. I turned to the chores of the day. Laundry went into the washing machine, waste basket contents went into the big trash in the kitchen to go outside later. The dishwasher was emptied and the morning’s coffee cup put in.
Another normal Saturday started unfolding. At the time, I had no clue how different the day would be. For now, it was just another Saturday morning cleaning the house.
Kitty finally got out of bed and joined me in the kitchen. She followed her own everyday routine, sitting in front of her empty bowl from yesterday and waiting patiently for me to refill it. Apparently she believes that staring silently into the crumbs of yesterday’s leftover food will produce a new serving. Indeed, I’ve never seen it fail either. I popped a can open, she ate, and then settled into her spot in the living room to watch me do more chores.
By one o’clock a lot of the house work was finished, but there was still a lot to do. A text chirped in on my phone, and I knew that my order was ready to pick up at Walmart. (That’s another story of its own for another day!) I grabbed my purse and headed to the car.
Your story often takes many turns
I live in a very small town that I often refer to as the village. What we lack in local folks, we make up for in tourists. During the warmer months of the year we are definitely outnumbered!
It was hot that day and there was traffic everywhere. For some reason I can’t explain, I took the long way to Wally World going down through the heart of town. Along the way I encountered all the slow drivers, lost drivers, and just plain frustrating drivers. The parking lot was a disaster from all the remodeling the store was doing. And the store was packed with shoppers all trying to do their thing in a hurry, half of them (at least) mad about having to go through the self check instead of a cashier. Not a pleasant atmosphere for a Saturday. And i still had things to do.
My order was placed into the trunk of my car while I listened to a frenzied talk radio program, then I was off and running to get home as fast as I could. Every car seemed to be in my way. I was admittedly letting things get to me.
I pulled out onto the street and headed straight for the highway. I wasn’t going to make the mistake of tracing my steps back through downtown, that was for sure! As I approached the lane to feed me onto the highway, a semi drove up, hardly slowed down at all, and forced two other cars and myself to stop in our tracks or be hit while he pulled out in front of us.
In that moment I felt the tension boil over within me. And from the reactions of the other two drivers, I’m guessing they weren’t doing any better than I was. The one in front of me threw a gesture to the truck driver before heading on out to merge into the highway lanes.
I instantly decided all kinds of dark things about that truck driver. I cut him no slack at all and for a short time it seemed like nearly all my Christian virtue got stuffed in a Walmart bag and tossed behind the seat. If that wasn’t bad enough, now he seemed to be just sauntering down the road in no hurry at all. And I was stuck behind him in the slow lane with tons of traffic all around me.
Your story touches in unexpected ways
And so I went for probably another half mile down the road slowly simmering inside. By now I was talking to myself and to the truck driver. How insensitive are you to pull out in our midst like that, nearly run us off the road just so you don’t have to hit your brakes, then pull out here and stroll along like you’re in your own driveway. (Interesting how upset we can get over basically nothing at times.)
All of a sudden the truck’s trailer just in front of me began to fishtail wildly as he applied his brakes, regained control, and headed for the right shoulder. The cars in the fast lane next to him shot over to the left shoulder. Every car on the road all of a sudden was caught up in something, including myself, and I didn’t yet know what was happening.
We all slowed way down. Time seemed to stop. The world outside my windshield was moving in slow motion. The road before me was cleared of all traffic for a few seconds and what came into view before me marked me for life.
Your story impacts others
I had to really look at first to realize what was unfolding before my horrified eyes. There in the middle of the road, running from my right to my left toward the median in the middle of the highway was a momma duck and about 13 baby ducklings. They were just clearing the center line between the two traffic lanes and starting the trek across the fast lane when I swerved behind them to give them room. Every car made the instant move it needed to in order to give the duck family the running room they needed.
Momma was running with a look of determination on her face. I swear I saw worry in her eyes. All of her babies were racing for all they were worth, necks stretched forward as far as possible, little webbed feet stepping faster than they’d ever stepped before. There were no stragglers. They were grouped up close behind her, each one giving it their all. Momma said do it–let’s go!
For a few short moments on a busy highway on a Saturday morning in Tourist Town, a group of several dozen people in cars and trucks let go of their selfish thoughts and their mean grousing. In a season of so much division and hatred, we came together in a common cause of good, to spare one little family of ducks.
After another mile or so, traffic picked back up to speed and we were all on our designated routes once again. I don’t know about anyone in any of the other vehicles, but for me, well, I was changed. My eyes filled with tears for what had just taken place. I thanked God for keeping all of the people involved–and all the ducks–safe. Then I repented for letting my attitude dictate things to my behavior that weren’t good. And I prayed for the truck driver who, in my opinion, was the first to signal to all of us that trouble was in the road ahead.
The rest of my day was uneventful. The chores all got done. The list got checked off item by item. Peace ruled the rest of my day. I felt a refreshing after my duck experience. It was a wake up call for me to not let myself get dragged down into the darkness around me, to never give up. Forever in my mind is the image of those little ducklings leaning into their run and going for it.
Your story is calling!
So, what’s your story? What has taken place that impacted you in a dynamic way? Very often, it’s the little moments that weigh in on us so strongly. And that can change so much for others and for yourself.
Let your story come up and get out there. Write it. Tell it. Give it voice. Lean into it and give it your all. This blog is all about getting your words out there so others can benefit from your experiences.
Once upon a time …(fill in the blank!)
Enjoy and God bless,
Jane
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