St. Patrick Presbyterian Church, Epc

Eugene Peterson called stories “acts of verbal hospitality.” He was rightly suggesting that when we use narrative to illustrate a concept, we're allowing people to walk around a bit inside our ideas, to inhabit and feel what we're saying instead of merely thinking about it. The words become flesh, and dwell among us. Sure, I could write you an essay about how incarceration forces you to find ways to thrive in a small space, or I could hand you Amor Towles’ modern classic, A Gentleman in Moscow. I think I know what the best bet is for encouraging empathy. The stories told in most families are a kind of propaganda,” claims Dan Allender. Whether consciously curated or not, our community’s treasury of stories codifies the culture. That’s good if the culture is healthy, and it's bad if it’s not. By picking and choosing what tales are repeated, embellished and celebrated, we reinforce the values and self-image we hold precious. So, too, when we allow other events and eras to remain hidden and forgotten, they become