Every Life is a Story
Every life is a story. When we encounter people, they are not just entering into our stories…we are entering into theirs. There is more than the moment. In the moment, I can easily be self-obsessed, self-absorbed, and self-centered. It is easy for me to only consider myself and how the actions of others impact me and my story. I often forget that every interaction is the intersection of stories. Where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and what’s been done to me collide with the collected experiences of another as our stories merge into a new narrative.
Remembering that every life is a story is an empowering way to enjoy people and embrace the richness of diverse life experiences. When I only think of me and my story, the beauty of relationship is lost and chronic misery ensues. People can become objects to manipulate for my perceived best interest or obstacles to avoid in the pursuit of my grand life ambitions. The extremes of manipulation and avoidance are tell-tale signs that I have lost the plot of the greater story. The greater story is God’s creative design and intent for humanity. We are not alone. We are not self-contained. We are created by a relational God to be in relationship with Him and His creation. Our individual stories matter in the context of the greater story, but without that context they become flat, empty, and utterly soul sucking.
Every life is a story. Every person is coming from somewhere. Everyone has reasons for behaving the way they do, for speaking the way they speak, and for the attitudes they project. When we fail to recognize that every life is a story, we forget that everything we do has impact beyond anything we can imagine. The ripples of seemingly meaningless interactions can trigger a tsunami of blessing or pain. There are no meaningless interactions. Every interaction is the crossing of stories.
When I forget that every life is a story:
Irritation rises. I start to think of people negatively. My worldview becomes defined by a “people are awful” mindset. People are not awful. People are wonderful. They are created by God in the image of God. When I am consistently irritated with people, it is because I no longer value their story and our shared story.
Confusion reigns. I evaluate people’s actions from the perspective of my life experiences. I cannot understand why they do what they do or why they feel what they feel. My only consideration is how I am feeling and I am unable to empathize with others. I begin to think that their behaviors are totally ridiculous and that allows me to write them off as unreasonable.
Disappointment rules. If I think that people are only valuable in how they help my personal story along, I begin to carry completely unrealistic expectations. When my expectations of others are not met by them, I find myself in a state of unending disappointment. Disappointment fuels disconnection.
Loneliness remains. I remain alone in my story. I only consider the world in terms of my plans and ambitions. I forget the beauty of the shared story and settle for the nightmare of self.
Every life is a story. The person who cut you off in traffic has a story. The person who stabbed you in the back at work has a story. The neighbor who is never neighborly has a story. Remember that every life is a story and be free to enjoy the wonderful world of the greatest story.
