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The Importance of Story

Jesus was a teacher and storyteller. The book of Matthew records numerous stories. While speaking to a crowd he told the parable of the sower who encountered different types of soil. (Matthew 13) Speaking to his disciples he told the story of the lost sheep (Matthew 18). There are many more parables throughout the gospels. Jesus would sometimes answer a question with a story.

I just finished reading Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. The fictional characters, George and Megs, are exploring the importance of stories. George has read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and wants to know if Narnia is real. Megs is a student at Oxford and finds an opportunity to meet C.S. Lewis. She plans to ask him George’s question.

Once Upon a Wardrobe

The question is repeated different ways; where do stories come from? What do they mean? Is there a deep truth embedded in stories?

Patti has a well-researched knowledge of C.S. Lewis and includes biographical aspects of his life. At the end of the book C.S. Lewis’ stepson comments on the book. It is a good read. 

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Carol is a follower of Jesus and a wife, mom & grandma. She worked for many years as a childbirth nurse and prenatal educator. She recently retired from clinical work. She has written articles for nursing journals and devotionals. Her novel, Aliisa's Letter, was published in 2010 and she is currently working on another project.

3 Comments on “The Importance of Story

  1. Could they be just really real?
    Aslan, Trumpkin, all the rest?
    Is vision that my heart doth feel
    the passing of God-given test
    to set aside the temporal,
    to see at last beyond the veil
    the mingle-matter of eternal
    in what seems a childrens’ tale?
    The folk that people my home street,
    so secular and full of care,
    have not substance of whom I meet
    when Clive Staples takes me there
    upon the magic turning pages
    that outweigh earth’s Godless sages.

  2. A mind free to think will imagine, reason, and then decide to act. R L Brown
    CS Lewis said that imagination is key to reason. But your mind must be clear, lucid, looking beyond instant gratification to see a reasonable danger. Reason trains the mind; imagination helps you see beyond what you know. Reason will test, decipher, and separate subtleties that snare. You are ready to think -to act beyond just yourself.
    I did a study of C S Lewis with Hillsdale College. This is a brief synopsis of my research.
    I am your neighbor today with FMF. Rhonda

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