The art of storytelling gives children a basic framework for understanding truth as well as the courage to live and tell about it. This week, I’m posting six important things to know about great stories!  Here are important things #3 and #4:

3. You cannot have a good story without conflict. When you begin to write you realize this.  Writing great stories involves chasing your main characters up a tree and throwing stones at them (I think Donald Miller said that).  On a more personal level, you begin to understand your own story better when recognize this profound truth.   You begin to understand and find comfort in the midst of your own suffering, because you discover a way to reconcile where we find ourselves in this world with what the Author of our stories tells us about himself.  He tells us that he’s good.  He tells us he is at work in all things to bring about good for us, and he tells us we should trust him.  Seeing how a story works gives us the ability to see above the fray and imagine what God could be up to.  Stories remind us that our lives and our suffering too are going somewhere. Continue Reading…