The Power of a Story

My grandchildren absolutely love story time, and I must admit that it is one of my favourite times of the day when they come to visit. Happily, they run and choose their favourite book, jump up on the couch and snuggle in for a time of wonder and imagination.

Our grandson, Levi, would sit for hours if we let him – often returning to his book of choice, Monkey Puzzle. I love the excitement he shows, the anticipation for what comes next and the delight when the story resolves or has a happy ending!

I too love listening to stories and, as we have started our year together, it has been a joy listening to the stories of staff as we seek to understand who each person is in Christ, their experiences and the way God has gifted them to serve so richly in our community.

One of the great privileges teachers have is to share stories with the precious students we teach, as we take time to reflect and understand God’s story, and how it teaches and shapes us to live our lives in service to Him.

Jesus was the master of storytelling, using narratives to help His followers understand about God, the kingdom and God’s love for us. One of my favourites is the series of parables found in Luke 15, where Jesus talks about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

In each of these stories, the commitment to finding that which was lost is strong, unrelenting and purposeful. How wonderful it is to know that the Father’s love for us sees His constant pursuit for us His children, and His desire for us to be found in His story.

Stories can be found in books, in movies and TV series, in the spoken word, in the headline news, and they can be found on the stage through drama and song. 2023 is an exciting year for our students in Years 3 to 6 as it is a year when every student is invited to be a part of our biennial drama production – where storytelling and music collide.

I am delighted to inform you that this year, the Primary Production will be “Finding Nemo Jr”, based upon the heart-warming story of Nemo, a determined little clown fish and the enduring love of his father who searched the seas for his lost son in order to bring him home.

With lovely parallels that remind us of God’s unconditional and eternal love for each of us as His children, we look forward to bringing this story to life on the stage in Term 3.