My roommate, Nolan, and I started this thing called Pancakes and Stories at the beginning of the school year. Every week we invited a group of people over to our apartment for a pancake feast and medley of stories. We did this nearly every Saturday morning for the entire Fall Quarter. Pretty much every week we invited a different group of people who brought different stories and unique experiences to share, and we prompted them with questions to invite vulnerability and authenticity.
What is your favorite memory with your parents?
What was the event in high school that had the most significant impact on you?
When was a hard time in your life?
Pancakes and Stories started as an idea Nolan and I had over Skype during the summer. I was enamored with the ideas of "story" and "narrative", realizing that so many people have these experiences that have greatly shaped who they are. Some people have been waiting to share them with others. Some people have been reluctant to give a glimpse into that part of their life. Either way, we wanted to invite people to be more fully known.
The stories we heard were beautiful, and they were written by a Creator who wants to be intimately involved in our lives. Our hope was that Pancakes and Stories would be a way we could allow people to invite others into their personal narratives. We wanted to know people better, to know how their narratives have been shaped, and be able to walk through some of the highs and lows of our memories together. It was a really sweet time of fellowship that I am extremely grateful for.
Pancakes and Stories was just the pinnacle of my interest in the idea of a story, though. Since high school, I have found this concept intriguing. Donald Miller wrote a book called A Million Miles in a Thousand Years that talks about living our lives as if they are a story. I've read it twice, and I would recommend it. He defines story as a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. Pretty vague, but applicable to every story ever written. It got me thinking about what the character in my story (myself) wants and what conflict I will have to overcome to get it. It also got me thinking about the bigger narrative that we are a part of. My story is not an independent entity solely shaped by my desires, but I am a part of the story that God is currently writing.
It's easy to become very self-centered when I think of my life as a story. What do I want? How will this affect my life? Am I willing to take on the conflict that this will likely result in? One character in the Bible who experienced quite a bit of conflict was Job. He pretty much had everything taken away from him. If there are any things in your life that mean something to you, imagine losing all of it. Now, this is kind of Job's situation. Not easy. Donald Miller had this to say: "Job found contentment and even joy, outside the context of comfort, health or stability. He understood the story was not about him, and he cared more about the story then he did about himself." Job struggled with God, definitely, but he was able to realize the greater narrative. The narrative God is writing is not about us, it is about His glory. But He is a loving God that chose to write a story of redemption that involves unworthy people like you and me.
With this being Christmas time, I can't help but reflect on how the birth of Jesus fits into the narrative that God is writing. Immanuel means "God with us" and that is exactly what happened when Christ was born. God came down to be with us and become involved in our stories. God intimately and intentionally chose to weave himself into the narratives we are trying to write for ourselves. As I celebrate this season, I fight the temptation to be convinced that Christmas is about fuzzy feelings, presents, and delicious cookies (though I do love those things). I want this season to be one where I can celebrate with joy the fact that God became involved in the life of a wretched sinner (myself) and died on the cross so that I could experience His forgiveness and presence. I want my life to be about bringing glory to my Savior, who has never left me nor forsaken me despite my continuous rebellion from Him.
Repeat the Sounding Joy! Jesus is born! He invites us to be involved in his grand narrative! He wants us to know Him personally! Repeat the Sounding Joy!
