In a perfect world, he would be standing at the end of the hallway, seeing her wail in hopeless agony as once again her heart shattered into a million pieces. In a perfect world, he would only wait until she looked up from her tears to see him before he rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. In a perfect world, he would rock her and whisper soothing words to comfort her as she sobbed her woes uncontrollably into his chest. In a perfect world, he would kiss her tears away and promise to never let her go.
But we don't live in a perfect world. Much as we like to imagine our perfect storybook moments, rarely to they ever actually occur. As much as I would like to be caught typing this, have the person read it and understand exactly what I'm talking about, and vow to reform, in most likelihood it will not happen. It would be nice...maybe. But maybe it's better that it doesn't.
Even though our world isn't as "perfect" as we wish it was, it isn't as bad as it could be either. There is always something worse than crying alone, never being held, or heartbreak. Even when you feel that you are dying inside, that moment will pass. Life is imperfect, as are the people we come into contact with on a daily basis. It will hurt, on almost a daily basis. We live in a fallen world and that is how it will be until God decides it's time for it to end. Rejection, pain, turmoil, heartbreak, wars, hunger, hate, tears, death, loneliness, sorrow, and hundreds of other woes we wish we didn't have to go through will still exist, whether we like it or not. It may be a long, long time until they are done away with or it may be tomorrow--that's up to God.
To end this sad, midnight saga, I must include some advice for myself and anyone who actually bothers to read this: don't feed yourself perfect fantasies and know that even when life seems the worst, you're probably getting the better end of it. You may save yourself a lot of disappointment if you keep to that wisdom. Therein concludes a midnight rambling. Go to bed.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Story
A story is not just words strung together as an entertaining
narration. It isn’t that simple. If only it could be…
One might see it as a time-consuming, life-devouring, soul-sucking articulation—a dangerous undertaking in any right, as all storytelling is. Or it can be the unleashing of a soul through words, the deliverance of a heart to the reader; the writer making himself so vulnerable as to translate his thoughts—no, his being, his very self—into language for others to view on paper.
It may take days, years, or merely minutes to relate a single telling. Putting down certain details may drastically change the feel or perspective, although perspective is always relative to the receiver. The best storyteller can make you feel as if you are without life or breath if they do not continue with their account. Some dedicate their entire lives to learning the art and making it undoubtedly their own possession. Others, not much time at all. Most are worth their weight in gold; about few can you say storytelling was not meant for them. A story is not “good” or “bad”, only different, and different people will tell it different ways.
A story begins with a thought, a single idea, or a random dialogue. But not all tales are written. At times, they were verbal, told only by those with the memories or the ability. They can last years or simply moments. Many stories are not ever written, only spoken or rehearsed in thought. If every story that existed (whether in written word, spoken word, or thought) had been told or recorded, what would the world be like today? Wouldn’t lives have changed for the better or worse? Where would we be today?
Not every story is for the good, neither are they all happy narratives. But do they create change? I believe every story will have an impact on the reader, whether it is negative or positive, small or big. That is determined by how it is told, who tells it, and how one receives it. Words are the most powerful tool any human being can use, and storytellers are well versed in their ability to use them. One could say that storytellers are some of the most powerful people on the earth.
Your life is a story. Some would tell you that you are the writer and can make your own path, but that is not entirely true. Your story, in fact, has already been written. It’s even finished. It was completed before you were even in existence. Yes, you have a free will and are under no manipulation or control whatsoever. But your book was written by the Greatest Writer, the One who knows what choices you will make with the free will He gave you. You are the reader, and you are discovering what has been written about you. Your story has been written, but it is your choice on which chapter to be on at any given time. You can’t skip ahead, but maybe you remain in a chapter longer than necessary. Learn to let your story live and breathe. Get the life that the Writer intends for you to have. The soul in the story, the spirit unleashed in the telling is His. Don’t let His storytelling be wasted.
One might see it as a time-consuming, life-devouring, soul-sucking articulation—a dangerous undertaking in any right, as all storytelling is. Or it can be the unleashing of a soul through words, the deliverance of a heart to the reader; the writer making himself so vulnerable as to translate his thoughts—no, his being, his very self—into language for others to view on paper.
It may take days, years, or merely minutes to relate a single telling. Putting down certain details may drastically change the feel or perspective, although perspective is always relative to the receiver. The best storyteller can make you feel as if you are without life or breath if they do not continue with their account. Some dedicate their entire lives to learning the art and making it undoubtedly their own possession. Others, not much time at all. Most are worth their weight in gold; about few can you say storytelling was not meant for them. A story is not “good” or “bad”, only different, and different people will tell it different ways.
A story begins with a thought, a single idea, or a random dialogue. But not all tales are written. At times, they were verbal, told only by those with the memories or the ability. They can last years or simply moments. Many stories are not ever written, only spoken or rehearsed in thought. If every story that existed (whether in written word, spoken word, or thought) had been told or recorded, what would the world be like today? Wouldn’t lives have changed for the better or worse? Where would we be today?
Not every story is for the good, neither are they all happy narratives. But do they create change? I believe every story will have an impact on the reader, whether it is negative or positive, small or big. That is determined by how it is told, who tells it, and how one receives it. Words are the most powerful tool any human being can use, and storytellers are well versed in their ability to use them. One could say that storytellers are some of the most powerful people on the earth.
Your life is a story. Some would tell you that you are the writer and can make your own path, but that is not entirely true. Your story, in fact, has already been written. It’s even finished. It was completed before you were even in existence. Yes, you have a free will and are under no manipulation or control whatsoever. But your book was written by the Greatest Writer, the One who knows what choices you will make with the free will He gave you. You are the reader, and you are discovering what has been written about you. Your story has been written, but it is your choice on which chapter to be on at any given time. You can’t skip ahead, but maybe you remain in a chapter longer than necessary. Learn to let your story live and breathe. Get the life that the Writer intends for you to have. The soul in the story, the spirit unleashed in the telling is His. Don’t let His storytelling be wasted.
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