Stories, II

SUN., APR. 18, 1982, 5:36 AM
FARM, STUDY

Yes, o son, this is a proper title for the morning’s meditation. The Study series on Story Theology was completed last evening, and you knew I could have something to say… and you wanted to hear such words. So, you are up in plenty of time… hear a muse on stories.

The story is the most basic form of communication, and it does come in many forms. An absolutely true story would be the recounting of an event or experience involving some group of people wherein the recounting was exactly the same by each individual. You realize that this would happen seldom, which means, then, that most “true” stories are attempts by the tellers to give details accurately of what happened… and what meaning should be discerned. Stories then tend to be a means of expressing values, in that certain discordant details are actually not noticed or easily forgotten or the teller’s values and desire for consistency unconsciously affect the telling.

This shades, then, into more conscious interpreting of the story. The less developed the spirit in the story teller the more tendency there is to protect self… to make a story honor and extol self, even at the expense of others. On the other hand those of highly developed spirit may err, in story-telling, on the side of others, unconsciously giving others more credit and merit than was the case, as well as being short in credit for self. You can see, I hope, that the telling of stories of “true” happenings is a complex matter.

Let this not dim My first affirmation, however, for the story is the most basic way in which people communicate. Without the stories the Bible relates there would be precious little theology. The Church, rightly, gathers to celebrate the stories – Christmas… the birth, Palm Sunday… the triumph, Holy Week… the path to the cross and crucifixion, Easter… the resurrection, Pentecost… the coming of Me, the Holy Spirit. Your spiritual forebearers, the Jews, told many stories of the relationship with Me. It is a fine tradition, and it should be continued.

Some of what is considered the basis for theology… words of Mine as Jesus… were actually in a story format. These include the Sermon on the Mount (or the Plain) and My discourse with the disciples after the Supper.

Scholars are not certain about the authenticity of the story of Me, the woman caught in adultery, and the righteous Jews. It is such a good story that it is usually included. Actually it did happen, and it is a marvelous story to make the crucial point that righteousness must be exhibited in forgiveness and mercy as well as in justice and punishment. The Jews would have been righteous in stoning her to death for her sin, but I reminded them of a higher righteousness, which is forgiveness.

Now… what if the story were not true? What if it had never happened? or if the importance of keeping the law had prevailed? Would the story, as it is told, still be valuable? Yes, indeed.