One-Liners From Story

A month later I am still digesting everything that happened over the two days I was at Story Chicago. Here are a few of the things running around in my head…

We’re not tired because we’re doing too much;
we’re tired because we’re doing the wrong things.
[Chris Seay]

These are they who have a story to tell.
[Stacy Spencer]

Beauty is God whispering “I love you”.
[John MacMurray]

We’re censoring our stories when we only talk about our successes.
[Mike Foster]

The enemy tell’s us to be fearful & scared of our pain,
but the Gospel tells us it’s all about our pain.
[Mike Foster]

Living A Better Story

About a month ago, I set out on a trip to the US, which inevitably began with lots of hanging around in airports. Wasted time? I think not. A few hours in Heathrow gave me ample time to read Don Miller’s latest book, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years. Like all of Miller’s stuff, it’s ridiculously easy to read, and ridiculously hard to read at the same time. It’s easy because I read it in a couple of hours. And it’s difficult because I’m still wrestling with putting it into practice.

And that’s the truly beautiful thing about it. It inspired me to live a better story.

“If Steve was right about a good story being a condensed version of life – that is, if story is just life without the meaningless scenes – I wondered if life could be lived more like a good story in the first place. I wondered whether a person could plan a story for his life and live it intentionally.”

It’s easy to get caught up in reading about other people’s exciting stories, their exciting lives. But the truth is we can just as easily have our own exciting story. We will have to choose to endure pain and hardship to get there no doubt, but joy does not (nor should not) come easily.

“Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life.”

Returning to Glasgow after 3 weeks of being on the road sometimes feels anti-climatic. Yet my story is just turning a page, starting a new chapter. I’ve been inspired (again) to live a better story. To not just talk about the stuff I dream of doing, but actually do it. That means actually changing something, doing something differently. For my part, I’m learning French again, and starting to navigate what it means to be a photographer full-time.

It’s scary. I might fail. It might not work out.

And that’d be ok. It matters that I try.

“Sometimes when I watch [Lucy, the dog] I think about how good life can be, if we only lose ourselves in our stories.”

What are you doing to lose yourself in the story? What would you do?

For Jonny

This is a post for Jonny. But it’s also a post for me, and for you. Maybe it’s as much for me as it is for Jonny.

We all need reminded that we matter. That your story matters. Your life matters.

There will be days when it doesn’t feel like that’s true. When the darkness crowds in and overwhelms us. Harvey Dent taught us that the night is darkest before the dawn. I try to remember those words when the darkness falls for me.

Because hope is real.

Healing is possible.

It might be a long, painful journey, but it is possible.

Lyrics On Friday

… makes a comeback! Sorry there hasn’t been much activity on here, but there will be more starting to happen again soon. I’m working hard on changing up my website and possibly the blog, as I get ready for a new season. Change is coming, again!

This is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard in a long time.

You only know what i want I you to
I know everything you don’t want me to
your mouth is poison your mouth is wine
you think your dreams are the same as mine

I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will
I always will

I wish you’d hold me when I turn my back
well the less I give the more I get back
your hands can heal, your hands can bruise
I don’t have a choice, but I’d still choose you

I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will

I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will
I don’t love you but I always will

I always will
I always will
I always will
I always will

[Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars]

What have you been listening to recently?