Story Telling

MAY 31, 1980, 5:05 AM
LONG BEACH, KITCHEN

You had an opportunity last night, o son, to tell your story to one who does not accept, readily, your premises or your experiences. It was an opportunity to be a bridge… to tell the story in a way that does not “lose” the listeners or turn them off. You could see, even in the way you did it, that the story is the favored approach.

Now let’s review and critique some of your “story”. You said, “I am a Calvinist”, and then described that as a belief in predestination. Another time you might say, “In me there is a strong sense of God’s selection… He selected me to do some particular tasks for Him. If you have something that needs doing, don’t you often ask someone qualified to do it for you. You don’t select the person just because you like him or prefer her over all others, but because this is the best person to accomplish the task. If someone volunteers to do your job, you may accept that… but you still may be part of the selection process. That’s how I understand predestination.”

You added a nice element that now can be more conscious… it was a proper bridge to Jackie’s position of personal responsibility… with knowledge of reincarnation you are aware that some of the preparation for being elected by God was in previous lives… your functioning then was an earned foundation for your functioning now in this life. (Of course, previous lives also could have been affected by election, so you and Me may be inextricably intertwined over time (or through the illusion of this)).

You also told firmly that your relationship to Me… with Me… is a strengthening one rather than a weakening one. An analogy with Leon’s glasses would have been fairly apt. He has needed glasses nearly all of his life in order to function well. Sight is absolutely necessary for the job he now has. Glasses make his sight normal, and he functions better… is stronger as a person… than he would be if he tried to see with just his own resources. So, in a more profound way I make you stronger as a person… in a positive way.

You saw that the story approach gives you the opportunity to tell what has happened to you, without “requiring” others to believe as you do. If they feel that you are telling them of something better than they have, gently ask them if this is what they are feeling. You have a right to affirm your experience… like unto having five sons and three granddaughters. This is “better” than someone else only as they see it to be so. You need not label it and try to make them desirous. Just let the story do its affecting.

I admonished you once not to have a “canned” story, and you saw, in last night’s experience, that the story needs to be built fresh and new each time, using the listener as the main criterion for the building. (Obviously having several listeners complicates the opportunity. You just have to decide who your main target is.)

You did miss one very positive chance, and you shall have to see that you follow up and fulfill it. Leon needed a story of positive, holistic health. Your definition of health, embellished, would have been a better response than you gave. Develop your own story, tell that of some others, or develop a prototype story to fill that need. Your experience with the barbed wire is a good example. There should be others, illustrating holistic functioning and adapting.

If you are going to be a story teller… and remember how you used this extensively when you were a young, junior high teacher?… you need to be more aware of your “material”. Find a way to work in Nathan’s stories in the class today. Develop your last presentation tomorrow in real story form.

Story telling is truly the approach to Our tasks together that I purpose for you. I will have many suggestions as We work together. Your opportunities shall be endless. Reflect Me this day.

Hallelujah to a new day & story
5:59 AM