Storytelling

Last night, I went to a storytelling evening. It was beautiful and moving and teaching. We sat on the floor, in a warm candle-lit room, and listened as people read and counted stories.
One Korean lady, told us about her mother. She had been forced in an arranged marriage, to marry a man she did not love. In the middle of her story, she went silent. The emotions were too strong for her to bear. But it wasn't one of those uncomfortable silences. Instead, she was touched, encouraged to go one, and intently listened to. The tears came easy for me. And I felt like I "knew" her after that...
A poet shared two of his spoken word pieces, crying out against easy Christianity and lopsided evangelism.
My heart drank all this in. My soul was refreshed.
Storytelling should be part of our church gatherings. It is much more memorable than any sort of three point presentation or analysis.