Telling the Story, Learning the Lessons.

My friend Bob sent me an email: ‘I wonder if  you  could  do  me  a  favour  Can  you look over my book…’  He’d attached a document…

A number of years ago my friend Peter said, ‘Can you help me with my book?’ Peter was brought up in Southwold, Suffolk, he’d joined the British Merchant Navy, travelled the world, and returned home to Suffolk.

He wanted to tell his story – adventures at sea, women he’d encountered, life as a painter and decorator, battles with the courts, lessons he’d learnt… Above all Peter wanted to tell how unexpectedly he’d come to faith in Jesus, and how that had dramatically changed his life…

We spent several years writing, ordering, editing, re-writing. Eventually it was finished.

Yesterday I read Bob’s book. He told of his childhood, the way he too had unexpectedly come to faith in Jesus, and the impact this had on his life. He told of churches he’s led in England, Canada and the US, lessons he had learnt, conclusions he’d reached…

Bob, like Peter, was telling his story and sharing the lessons he’d learnt. Hopefully sometime Bob’s book will be published…

Musing… telling my story…

Yesterday my day started with a list of twenty things to do. I prayed, reflected… I’d have to prioritise… I added five more things to my list.

The day didn’t go as planned. I only completed eight of the twenty-five listed tasks – but it was a good day. Our ‘singing for health’ group went well… I had three important, unplanned conversations with folks who needed to talk and tell their story…

Yesterday’s story contained no great drama, no humorous anecdotes. I was continue to learn… people are more important than tasks… everybody has a story to tell, for me to listen to and learn from… God, the great story teller, is also the great story maker.

God’s story for me is better than my lists. I continue to entrust the remainder of my story into His hands.