A story has to have a central narrative and a moral or a point.
A plant’s life story
Despite this morning’s chill, one brave little Virginia Bluebell lifted its head, craving the warmth of the sun. Spring has arrived early here at Vanaprastha. Daffodils, vinca, and dwarf irises. Mountain peiris, oakleaf hydrangea, and viburnum. Redbud, serviceberry, and maples.
The central narrative on this first day of spring is showing and telling the beautiful story of creation.
Spring’s resurrection after winter’s death.
The Bible’s one big story
This past week, a fellow Bible study member sent a link to Jordan Peterson’s tour of the Museum of the Bible. Well worth the watch. In the beginning was the Word… God, wisdom, and music—the Word sung. “You cannot know God unless you read and study his Word,” one commentator said. “Literacy is Israel’s true wealth.”
How we perceive truth and beauty comes from reading the Bible. In fact, the Bible is one big story. The central narrative is humanity’s cycle of self-destruction, and the point is the Messiah who will restore the covenant relationship between God and humans.
Creation, death, resurrection.
Our life’s story
I love to listen to or read other people’s stories, don’t you? When I visited my mother in her later years, I often asked her to tell me about her growing up years. She was a history keeper—and how I miss her and wish I had more of her stories written down or recorded.
The central narrative in our lives is the struggle to find our way in life. We ask, to what purpose, to what point? Life’s meaning is the biggest challenge for people writing their stories, though the showing and telling of events is difficult, too. In that regard, I highly recommend Leslie Leyland Fields’ Your Story Matters: Finding, Writing, and Living the Truth of Your Life.
We are all part of one big story: creation (birth), death of our old selves, and resurrection. Not re-creation of our younger selves but recognition of the true self.
Drawing closer to God, that is the point of our story. We, like the brave little bluebell, lift up our heads to the heavens, reaching for His light.
I like the way you have taken something as small as a flower and gone to the arc of the Bible story. Big or small, we are all part of that story. Thank you for a lovely picture, being a Brit, I did not know the Virginia bluebell.
Thank you for your comment, Letitia, and good to meet you!
As sweet as Virginia Bluebells are, they can be invasive. But here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, my husband and I say, “Spread wherever you like!”
Beautifully stated truths. Thank you, Carole. I especially like this, “Drawing closer to God, that is the point of our story. We, like the brave little bluebell, lift up our heads to the heavens, reaching for His light. closer to God, that is the point of our story. We, like the brave little bluebell, lift up our heads to the heavens, reaching for His light.”
Thank you for your comment – and your encouragement! -C.D.
The truth of story’s not in words,
although they can indeed enhance
the road on which we’re moving towards
that shining Heaven in a dance.
Dance is a meet metaphor
for life’s joy and deep bleak sorrow,
and it holds an open door
to the rhythms of tomorrow
that faintly heard, beguile the heart
and urge us on in toe-tap time
to peek in, become a part
of that weaving samba line
that ever wanders, so I’m told
along the streets of gleaming gold.
Part of the samba line – Love it!