One evening, Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick, was visiting his friend and fellow novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne at his Massachusetts home.

The evening was filled with friendship and colorful story telling. Melville recounted to Hawthorne and his wife the harrowing adventures he had while on a voyage in the South Seas. With exuberant gestures and lyrical tone of voice, he intricately described one particularly frightening battle between two warring island tribes. The Hawthorns were held captive by the vivid tale he wove with his words.

Several days after their evening together, Hawthorne once again visited his friend. This time, at Melville's house, the two authors got into conversation. At one point, Hawthorne asked, "Could you bring out that club? I'd like to see it again.”

"Club?" asked a bewildered Melville. "What club?"

"The one you were swinging about your head while you told us about the island battle."

Still confused, Melville assured his friend that he had no club.

"Of course you did," persisted Hawthorne. "I distinctly recall it. So does my wife. You brought that club back from the South Seas. It was black and carved."

The confusion finally gave way to clarity. It became obvious what had happened. Melville's storytelling had been so vivid, so compelling and so totally enthralling that the Hawthorns really thought they had seen the club which Melville had only used words to illustrate.

Story telling is one of the most powerful tools you and I possess. Story is a kind of incarnation, it gives form to what was once invisible and lends voice to what was once inaudible. Story telling reveals meaning without overtly defining it. Story telling was the method Jesus most frequently used to communicate abstract truths. He constructed concrete pictures through words and phrases. He drew out emotions and gave body to once unformed hopes with His parables. His masterful story telling always drew a crowd and equipped His listeners with Heavenly truth wrapped in earthly pictures.

Like Melville, and more importantly, like Jesus, we too are powerful in our communication when we engage in story telling. It draws a memorable picture for our listener which they do not soon forget. Mere words, lists, and pontifications are often lost after they are spoken, but, not so with story.

I will always remember my editor's advise when I wrote my first book. She told me to “show” my reader what I want them to know, not “tell” them. It is so true. How often have you left a speaking event and forgotten the three points and Bible references you just heard (or even worse, you spoke?!!)? Even if we really appreciate those points and scriptures, it’s still hard to recall. But, it's not easy to forget the pictures drawn in our minds by a masterful storyteller. When the story is recalled, the truth represented by that story is also recalled.

As Philip Gerard said, “It’s human nature to love a story and hate a lecture.”

Stories often illustrate points better than simply stating the points themselves because, if the story is well spoken, there is often less need to state the point at all; the listener contemplates what they’ve heard and figures out the point independently. The more the hearer does, the more he or she will get out of your story.

So, my friends, “show,” don’t just “tell!” Draw word pictures for all to see as you communicate lasting truths.

“How splendid it is to unfurl one’s sail and blow straight ahead on the gust of great story telling.” Virginia Woolf

A Word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11 NIV

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark (and Light),
and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET
 

At our first Priority 1 meeting we had two speakers. One spoke on how to develop your own quiet time, and the other spoke on how to start a regular prayer time.

Every woman attending received a journal and many handouts with suggestions for further study on both themes.

The workshop was very well received, and we had many who said, "thank you for jump starting me in those areas."

The next Priority 1 will be on "sharing your story." Once again, we will have two speakers who will talk about sharing your faith/story with others.

Submitted by: Donna Sullivan, Powell, WY

Still your favorite conference! Bridget Taylor Ministries presents "I Choose Joy!" Watch clips from a conference at bridgettaylor.com, then book I CHOOSE JOY! for your 2007-2008 women's event. Let Bridget bring life-changing joy to the ladies of your church.

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