It’s All About the Story

I take care of my nephew every day and he’s just so stinkin’ cute… But that’s another story!! This post actually has everything to do with STORY. Story came across my mind so many times today, I just got to thinking about it all.

My nephew is a year old and he always brings us books and makes his little noises, then climbs on our lap as if to say, “Get the hint… read me the story!!!” He loves to look at the pictures, open the flaps, touch the textures, be completely involved… and hear the story.

From the time we are babes, we intuitively want to hear a story, be involved in a story… be a part of a story.

It goes on… I was reading the milk carton this morning and it had a story. Even the marketing world knows that a story sells. So I looked at the cereal box, the apple juice, the coffee, the bread, etc. etc. There was a story to each one. What is it all about?? Why should I purchase this product as opposed to the other one?

I am on my way to Peru in a few days and I am reading up on Food For the Hungry, the group we are going with…. And I notice that even there… it’s about the story. The info encourages everyone who goes to know your story, or testimony, so that you can share it…. why? So others would be drawn to the author of that story…

The business world emphasizes all along that we should share our story about why we are in the business… the story is what draws people… No one wants to be a part of something without meaning…

All this story talk makes me think God has a plan in all of us sharing our stories. Whether it is in a picture book, or one with words: on a package of food, or in a brochure: in a ministry explanation, or a part of a business plan…. The story is what draws…

God has a story too, which is the original story that taught us all how to be a part of a story and share our story… If we begin to share our story, someone is engaged. If someone is engaged, there is desire to go further. When we take the step to go further, we begin to develop relationships. When relationship happens… struggle begins. When struggle happens, there is need for restoration, and dying to self. When we die to ourselves….. Love wins. When we see Love winning, we want to know the author of that Love…. and so begins real life.

It’s all about the Story…

Alaskan Beauty

I haven’t written for ages, it seems. I guess life gets that way sometimes! It has been a crazy busy time for me. This summer is packed with all kinds of travel for all kinds of reasons… But that doesn’t mean that work stops. Trying to do it all gets crazy at times, kind of like a Labrador who has tennis balls bouncing in front of him. He wants to catch them all, but can’t quite get his grasp on one without the others drawing his attention as well. His head just ends up bobbing and dizzy. I just got home today from a 7 day cruise to Alaska. I never imagined that I would take a cruise (much too extravagant for my blood), but I earned it for free… so I thought I better take the opportunity to go!!

It was so beautiful, I can’t even describe it. I saw whales galore, seals barking, eagles flying, glaciers melting… felt the boat rocking… rocking and rocking…(but I never got seasick, thankfully!!) I took 5 roles of film, yes, film… it’s this great thing, you should try it some time… !! The sunsets were amazing. As I watched from the top of the ship, the sun would set on one side of the boat while the moon was rising at the other. We had a few crystal clear evenings that fully took my breath away. God is the ultimate artist, hands down!!!

We stopped in Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, and Victoria, British Columbia. I ate far too much food, yet walked laps and laps around the top of the ship (they have a track up there). Signed up for the rock-climbing wall on the ship, but since it was moist and cold for most of the trip, and it was outside, they never opened it… boo! And here’s a crazy thing… I actually played bingo on the ship, twice, and I won the very first game I played… with a pot of $172. Pretty nice for the first time I ever played!!! And the funny part is that today, when I got home, I added up every dime I spent on the trip (including the cost of the bingo cards) and it all came to $173.04, which means that I only spent $1.04 on my entire cruise to Alaska!! God has a funny sense of humor!! My goal was to not spend any money, and just enjoy a truly free cruise!! So…..I guess that came pretty close!!! Woo Hoo!!

I met some amazing people and also learned about a whole new culture…. the cruising culture. The people who worked on the ship represented 58 different countries from around the world. I have never seen so many different cultures of people in one place. I adored listening to all the accents and even speaking Spanish with people I met from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru and Spain. Our room attendant was from India, our head waiter from Indonesia, our assistant waiter from Trinidad…. and on and on it went. The people were from everywhere. I almost didn’t go on this cruise because I was too busy… I am so glad I took the time to relax and enjoy it!!! I will never forget it!! Something completely different from what I ever saw myself doing. I could go on for hours… but I will leave it at that.

I am home now for two weeks and then off to Peru for ten days. Between the Oregon coast, Alaska’s nearly untouched beauty and Peru’s charm as well… I am not quite sure what I will look forward to come September!!

God has truly shown me His beauty in new ways this summer… I am very thankful.