[This reflection by Brian Alton was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 14/Apr/2024]
At the turn of the year, ITV screened a drama about the injustice suffered by sub-postmasters over many years; accused wrongly of theft and fraud, when in fact a new software programme was at fault. People were bankrupted, sent to prison, lost livelihoods. Campaigns to exonerate those affected had been attempted over many years, with little success. However, the drama turned a shocking story from impersonal words on a page, to the story of real people, and the impact has been huge. Viewers could watch and feel the emotional consequence of this tragic situation.
At HBC over the last couple of years, we have been able to spend time with, and begin to know many asylum seekers who have been a part of our congregation. We have all previously read accounts about the plight of people undergoing persecution, who have crossed the channel in inflatable boats. However, meeting the people themselves has turned this from an item on the news, to the story of real people, who have experienced things I could never have imagined. Suddenly, this was personal, a story shared face to face.
There are few things more powerful than story (testimony) – as humans we are wired to be part of community and to share each other’s experiences. Kaitlyn Bouchillon wrote in her book ‘Even if not’:
“It doesn’t matter who you are, or who you’ve been, every single person has a story. The artist, the CEO, the single mum, the single college girl, the homeless man on the street, the cashier, and the pianist. Every person is a walking story…. There is power in every story, no matter what you have, or haven’t walked through.”
“The story of your life is yours alone, and if you don’t live it, nobody else will.”
“[God] is the one writing, but he asks you to do the telling.”
Over the years, I have been blessed to listen to the testimonies of many people I see weekly, sitting in our congregation. These testimonies have sometimes been of God’s favour, but also of challenging times people have faced. The stories have encouraged me, challenged me, made me grateful that people have been brave enough to share their triumphs, and their struggles. Their courage and openness have enabled me to share some of my own story in return.
As HBC moves into a season focused on ‘outreach’, we ALL have a story to tell. Even though it may seem scary to do so, or comparatively insignificant, there is nothing like the power of our story. Building relationships with those in our community will allow us opportunities to listen to them, and hopefully then to share our story.
“Please don’t wait until you’ve got it all figured out and life looks beautiful…that day is never likely to come, but God is there right now, right where you are, on the very page you’re living.”
Someone you know may be struggling, and need to hear your honest, unvarnished story. When you (safely) make yourself vulnerable to someone, you give them permission to be vulnerable back. You may well be the key to releasing them from a situation that has been causing them great distress, but about which they had not been able to speak.
What’s your story?
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Last week’s reflection: A Surprise Event by Michael Goble
Contributed by Brian Alton; © Brian Alton