CAUGHT UP IN A BIGGER STORY 

In Year 11 English, we have just finished up a unit of work where we thought and wrote about the impact of stories; on society, and ourselves. We looked at the power dynamics around storytelling in the media and through politically motivated educational dictates. We looked at family stories and their ability to impact the identities of future generations. We also looked at our personal stories and how we have the power to ‘edit’ them, and change the future. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring all these ideas and marvelled at the wonderful writing it has helped my students produce.

There is no denying that the stories we listen to, the stories we believe, and the stories we tell ourselves are incredibly powerful in shaping the reality we live in.  Another plain fact is that our stories are intricate, messy, and often hold a lot of brokenness that needs to be sifted through and understood. Luckily, that is the basis for the start of every good story. A problem that overwhelms the protagonist, and then the enjoyment of seeing that problem overcome, and a lesson learned.

We are physically wired to engage in this kind of story. The release of dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin increases greatly as we listen to, read, or watch a narrative. It’s almost as if we were designed by a creator who wanted to tell us his story, and have us enjoy it.

Our brokenness and our sin have left us utterly bereft. The pain and consequences of our sin hitting us most acutely in our relationship with our loving and perfect Father. But then, because of His great love for his creation, He gave His own Son, part of Himself, and made a way for us to be restored, and freed from the consequences of our sin. We can, if we accept this gift, become new, and enter an eternity of complete perfection and restored closeness to our Father.

This is the greatest story of all. If we live in the hope of this story, it gives us purpose, comfort, resilience, joy, and peace.  While we are still in the middle of the story, we do know how it’s going to end; and God gave us the choice in which ending we choose; life or death.

At this school we tell this story, always in the hope that our precious students will find the best ending. That through knowing and following Jesus they too can know the way, the truth, and the life.