Spiritual Storytelling
I’ve said it before and will say it again. Life is holy ground. Life is gift. Life is story. Yet when we consider embracing and telling our own story, we pull up short. Feels too vulnerable, too all-about-me. Yet life is the only vessel we possess that contains the essence of the Divine. Life is the place where God dwells.
Once we accept the power of life and recognize it as holy gift, how exactly do we sink down into it and find a way to express and share our story? Here are three quick ideas to begin telling your life story, your spiritual journey. This may be an exercise just for you to become comfortable with the process, or it may be an exercise you share with a small group of friends.
The Photo Gallery: By simply gathering photos of your life through the years. Lay them out on a table and let them speak to you. Which images make you wonder about something? Which evoke an emotion in you? Now look at them all as a whole collection. What do you notice about yourself, or about your family? Jot down thoughts and insights you gain from the visual display.
Networks: Some individuals experience life in a more social or relational perspective. As you mentally move through your life, year by year, note the individuals who have had the most impact, positive or negative, on the formation of our life and attitudes. What are the common threads that create a lifeline for you? How can you see God working in these relationships? Capture these thoughts in your journal, or start writing thank you notes to key individuals in your life.
Maps: Another perspective is based on the places where you’ve lived from birth to present moment. How has “place” informed your development? How have geographic locations created milestones in your growth? How have they contributed to your identity? Reflect on this physical places as holy ground.
What are the methods you’ve used to capture your own spiritual story or life journey? How comfortable are you in telling parts of your story to someone else? What are your areas of resistance? What is the legacy your life is creating? If you chose three symbols, images, or words to represent the beginning, middle, and present stages of life, what would they be?
